2024 Environmental Law Diehl Fellows Announced

Ally Grimaldi ’24

Ally Grimaldi is the 2024 Global Law Alliance (GLA) Diehl Fellow and a 2024 JD graduate of the Environmental and Animal Law programs. A Portland native, Ally was born into environmentalism. From stargazing in her grandpa’s backyard to beach walks hunting for washed-up shells along the Willamette, Portland fostered her love of the outdoors from a young age. Through the Diehl Fellowship, Ally is excited to channel her passion for wildlife, conservation, and international law into real action to better the planet.

While at Lewis & Clark, Ally participated in Global Law Alliance, Animal Law Review, and Women’s Law Caucus. She interned with Phoenix Zones Initiative and worked on a project where she strategized legal pathways for the advancement of a Belmont Report for animal research. She also worked as a Communications Assistant in the Office of Communications, where she wrote news feature stories on law school happenings to curate the Lewis & Clark website.

Prior to attending law school, Ally earned her Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and Political Science from the University of Oregon Clark Honors College, where she graduated summa cum laude. In her free time, Ally enjoys watercolor, strategic board games, all things Taylor Swift, and reading everything she can find.

Zach Nacev ’24

After graduating in May 2024, Zach began working as a Legal Fellow at Earthrise Law Center in August 2024. He is excited to continue learning from the expert educators and practitioners working at Earthrise who have already taught him so much about environmental law and good lawyering. He looks forward to being able to meaningfully advocate for the environment as an Earthrise Legal Fellow.

At Lewis & Clark, Zach’s interest in environmental law flourished. In addition to taking environmental law courses, Zach worked as a summer intern and clinic student for Earthrise. While there, Zach had the opportunity not only to work with major environmental statutes like the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environment Policy Act, but also with administrative law and civil procedure. He had the chance to research, write portions of briefs and participate in client meetings. That breadth of opportunity is part of what led him to apply for a Fellowship after graduation.

Zach’s interest in the environment grew both from his interest in food and its connection to place and from his time working with students as a high school teacher. The connection between food, culture, and the environment taught him that the human and natural worlds cannot be separated from one another. Teaching showed him that preserving and protecting the environment is essential to fostering equity. In environmental law, Zach has found a way to meld those interests.

Zach grew up in northern Kentucky near Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania where he studied history and Latin American studies. Zach also has a masters degree from the University of Chicago where he also studied Latin American History, specifically writing on identity and cuisine in 20th century Argentina. Prior to law school, Zach worked as a high school English and History teacher in Wisconsin. In his free time, Zach can be found playing soccer, visiting farmers’ markets, cooking for friends and family, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

Drew Baloga ’24 

Drew Baloga grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and attended the University of Michigan for his undergraduate degree, where he majored in environmental studies with a specialization in urban planning. Following college, Drew worked at Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor before moving to Portland, Oregon to attend law school at Lewis & Clark.
Drew’s interest in working to protect the environment comes from his appreciation of the natural world and his desire to preserve opportunities for adventure and exploration for future generations. Drew’s most memorable law school experience was his time spent at the Earthrise Law Center, working on a variety of cases challenging logging projects on federal lands.
Learning from the talented attorneys and professors was an incredibly valuable experience. Drew is most excited about getting to work as a legal fellow in the Center for Biological Diversity’s Endangered Species program, increasing protections for imperiled species and pushing for more effective policies.