Second Diehl Environmental Law Fellows Announced

Lewis & Clark Law School is the recipient of a bequest from John E. Diehl who was an active environmentalist in Washington. The Diehl bequest supports a fellowship program for Lewis & Clark Law School graduates who are planning to work in public interest environmental law. The bequest specified a preference for graduates who are “dedicated to resource conservation, wilderness and wildlife habitat and preservation, or human population stabilization.” This year’s Diehl Fellows embody these principles and have shown their dedication to public interest environmental law.

Lizzy Pennock ’21.

Lizzy’s passion for environmental advocacy started in her teenage years in Colorado when she learned about the dire state of our ocean resources and species. Her focus was on wildlife because she wanted to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. After getting her undergraduate degree in Marine Science, she decided to direct her interests towards public interest environmental law to combine science and policymaking and began her law studies at Lewis & Clark. Since starting her new path, Lizzy has worked to gain as much experience as possible in the field of public interest environmental law, starting by volunteering for the Northwest Environmental Defense Center at Lewis & Clark in her first year and working on pro bono activities on the Endangered Species Act with the nonprofit organization, WildEarth Guardians. After graduation, with the help of the Diehl Fellowship, she will take a position with WildEarth Guardians, working in the Wildlife Program.

Kelsey Furman ’21

Kelsey began her post-graduate career teaching science to elementary school students in Brooklyn, New York. Teaching students about climate change and human impacts on the environment reaffirmed her passion for environmental advocacy work. After two years, she decided to apply to law school and return to her home state, Oregon, to become a more direct proponent for environmental protection. At Lewis & Clark, she was Managing Editor for Environmental Law, a volunteer for the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, and an extern at Crag Law Center, the Center for Sustainable Economy, Tualatin Riverkeepers, and Earth Law Center. Kelsey was also a clinic student at Earthrise Law Center. These experiences motivated her to continue this career path after law school. After graduation, she will join KS Wild, a nonprofit in Ashland, Oregon, as its first Conservation Fellow – an opportunity that would have been inaccessible but for the Diehl funding. “It is a privilege to remain in the public interest sector, doing crucial work to protect and restore the natural areas in the Klamath-Siskiyou region of southwest Oregon and northwest California.”

Hillary Fidler ’21

Hillary is originally from Michigan where her passion for environmental justice stemmed from witnessing the Flint water crisis. This crisis inspired her decision to attend law school. Hillary has been committed to environmental justice throughout her law school career by drafting a proposed municipality water affordability program and assisting in drafting a civil rights complaint for discriminatory permitting of hazardous waste facilities. Hillary also was a clinic student at Earthrise Law Center and an associate editor for Animal Law Review. “Working to provide people with affordable access to clean water and healthy air has combined my passion for justice, the environment and people.” Hillary plans to use her Diehl Fellowship to continue to address environmental injustices in Michigan through the nonprofit FEED Social Equity.

Bridgett Buss ’20

Bridgett is originally from the greater Portland area where her interest in environmental protection grew from a childhood of camping, fishing, hiking, and enjoying all the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Upon enrolling at Lewis & Clark, Bridgett immediately became a student volunteer with Northwest Environmental Defense Center, eventually leading a project group and ultimately serving as a student board member for two years. Bridgett was also a clinic student and summer intern for Earthrise Law Center working on public-lands related and other matters, and worked as a research assistant for Professor Blumm compiling course materials for Public Land and Resources Law and an international course on U.S. Natural Resources Law. Bridgett will continue her work to protect public lands and conserve natural resources by continuing her fellowship at Earthrise for another year thanks to the Diehl Fellowship.