Gregg Macey Selected as Inaugural Director of the Environmental Innovation Center

Lewis & Clark has selected Gregg Macey to lead its new Environmental Innovation Center, a cross-college initiative that leverages the institution’s long-standing strengths in environmental law, health care, education, and sustainability to prepare the next generation of environmental leaders. Macey will jump-start research, cocurricular opportunities, and collaborations across the city, state, region, nation and world to accelerate environmental protection, community health, and climate and energy policy.

The Environmental Innovation Center is a signature initiative of The L&C Advantage, a set of strategic imperatives designed to advance the institution’s commitment to developing leaders to address global challenges.

Gregg Macey
Credit: Steve Zylius“I am thrilled to welcome Gregg to Lewis & Clark, where his wealth of experience in environmental law, policy development, and community engagement will build on our existing strengths,” said President Robin Holmes-Sullivan. “His commitment to environmental justice and public service makes him an ideal leader to launch our first cross-college initiative—expanding Lewis & Clark’s environmental impact; enhancing opportunities for our stakeholders on campus and throughout the region; and amplifying the Pacific Northwest’s groundbreaking environmental work.”

At the heart of the center is the Environmental Innovation Lab, where students, staff, and faculty will partner with communities, nonprofits, policymakers, industry groups, and international organizations to find solutions to real-world environmental challenges. Students will learn by doing; faculty will expand knowledge; and communities will benefit from tangible environmental progress.

“Lewis & Clark’s willingness to address climate change across the curriculum is inspiring,” says Macey. “Equally important is its commitment to public problem solving and to building just, sustainable systems through legal services, education, health care, and other fields. I couldn’t be more excited to advance environmental innovation across Lewis & Clark’s three campuses and expand the region’s capacity to meet environmental challenges and serve the public.”

Environmental Innovation Center Director Gregg Macey

Macey has outlined a vision for Lewis & Clark that includes harnessing the strengths of each campus; organizing new research, coalitions, and co-curricular opportunities to address our most pressing environmental challenges; and dramatically expanding the institution’s impact.

“I believe our best work happens through partnerships that unleash the potential of diverse groups to solve problems—and this work requires intention, creativity, and unwavering commitment,” says Macey. “The scale of our world’s environmental problems demands creative, integrated approaches and the leveraging of resources. Our students, many of whom are already deeply committed to this work, must come to understand how a range of professional roles can further environmental stewardship.

“I believe our students, as well as our alumni, are well positioned to address the most vexing societal challenges we face,” Macey adds. “I’m thrilled to join an institution that shares these beliefs.” 

Macey brings 25 years of experience in environmental law, justice, and policy through his work as an attorney, mediator, policy designer, executive director, and professor. Most recently, he served as director of the Center for Land, Environment, and Natural Resources at UC Irvine School of Law, where he raised over $8 million and worked with partners on issues such as climate action and adaptation planning, climate policy, air and water quality, community health, transportation and infrastructure, clean energy, and civil rights. As a tenured law professor, he conducted award-winning research and taught environmental law, environmental law and science, environmental justice, land use policy, property and housing law, and related courses to students in law, engineering, and urban planning.

Among his recent work, Macey is a contributing author to California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment, a multiyear research initiative providing updated science on climate change impacts and tools for building resilience in vulnerable communities; findings are expected later this year. He is also the creator and co-principal investigator for Integrated and Equitable Climate Action, a project funded by a $1.2 million Climate Action grant from the State of California, which aligns local land-use plans with crucial climate objectives and mandates while developing best practices for adaptation planning. Macey is most proud of his work with national and statewide coalitions to document civil rights violations, infrastructure development challenges, and regional and local air quality solutions.

Macey was selected from a national pool of candidates. An internal committee led by Alicia Ouellette, dean of Lewis & Clark Law School, conducted the search. Committee members included Janice Weis, associate dean and director of the environmental, natural resources, and energy law program; Elizabeth Safran, associate professor of geological science, and Cort Dorn-Medeiros, associate professor and chair of counseling, therapy, and school psychology.

“I want to thank Alicia, Cort, Janice, and Liz for their leadership and diligence throughout the process,” said Holmes-Sullivan. “I’m also grateful for the campus community’s participation and feedback, which were integral to a successful outcome.”

Macey begins his tenure on July 7.