The Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI) at the University of Iowa College of Law has launched a new Practitioner in Residence (PIR) Program, an annual initiative designed to bring leading environmental practitioners to campus for immersive, short-term residencies focused on student engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public-facing programming.
The Practitioner in Residence Program connects Iowa Law students and faculty with nationally and internationally recognized leaders working at the forefront of environmental law and policy. Each practitioner will spend several days on campus participating in classes, workshops, and small-group discussions, culminating in a flagship public event hosted by HELI and its partners.
“This program is about giving students direct access to people who are actively shaping environmental outcomes on the ground,” said Blake Rupe, Program Director of the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative. “The Practitioner in Residence Program builds on HELI’s strengths in experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration, while deepening our engagement with environmental leaders whose work has real-world impact.”
Designed as an annual program, the Practitioner in Residence series expands HELI’s commitment to applied environmental law and public engagement. Residencies are structured to foster meaningful interaction between practitioners, students, faculty, researchers, and community partners, while also elevating Iowa Law’s profile in environmental, energy, natural resources, and water law.
Inaugural Practitioner in Residence: Alfred Brownell
HELI will welcome Alfred Brownell as its inaugural Practitioner in Residence. Alfred Lahai Gbabai Brownell Sr. is the Founding President of Global Climate Legal Defense (CLiDeF), the founder of Green Advocates International (GAI), the Lead Campaigner for the African Climate Platform (ACP), and Environmental Rights Africa Coalition (ERA). He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2019, the world’s leading award for grassroots environmental leadership.
Brownell’s work focuses on environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and community-led conservation, particularly in Liberia and across West Africa. During his residency, Brownell will engage with students and faculty through classroom visits and discussions, and will participate in a public event exploring the role of law in advancing environmental justice and protecting vulnerable communities.
“Alfred Brownell’s work exemplifies the values at the heart of this program,” Rupe said. “His career shows how legal tools can be used to protect communities, defend human rights, and advance environmental work at a global scale.”
During His Residency
A Lawyer's Role in the Global Environmental Movement: Lunchtime Chat with Alfred Brownell
Thursday, April 9, 2026 | 12:45pm to 1:45pm
Students are welcome to meet the global environmental law leader, Alfred Brownell, for a lunchtime discussion on his work in Liberia and beyond.
Protecting Water, Protecting Community: Short Films & Dialogue on Indigenous Land and Water Defense
Thursday, April 9, 2026 | 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Join us for an evening of short films and community conversation exploring movements to protect water, land, and community.
More information and registration
ELS and NALSA: Environmental Justice and Tribal Rights Breakfast Chat
Friday, April 10, 2026 | 8:30am to 9:30am
Join Environmental Law Society and Native American Law Student Association hosting Dakota elder and historian Tim Mentz Sr. and Liberian Environmental and Indigenous rights lawyer Alfred Brownell for a discussion about environmental justice and tribal rights.
Who Defends the Defenders? Exploring layers of sovereignty, legitimacy, human rights, and activism in land and environmental protection
Friday, April 10, 2026 | 12:30pm to 2:00pm
In this panel, Dakota elder and historian Tim Mentz Sr., the first certified Tribal Historic Preservation Officer in the United States, will share stories and conversation with renowned Liberian environmental and Indigenous rights lawyer Alfred Brownell, a 2019 recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize.
MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
In Conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning Science Writer & Journalist Elizabeth Kolbert
Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 6:00pm
Join the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative and Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer and journalist Elizabeth Kolbert for a conversation on climate change, biodiversity loss, and the role of journalism in shaping public understanding of environmental issues. Alfred Brownell will serve as the guest of honor.
MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
A Platform for Ongoing Engagement
The Practitioner in Residence Program builds on HELI’s recent success hosting high-impact collaborative visits and is intended to serve as a platform for sustained partnerships with environmental organizations, policymakers, scholars, and community leaders.
Future Practitioners in Residence will be selected based on their leadership in environmental law and policy, their ability to engage diverse audiences, and their alignment with HELI’s mission.
More information about the Practitioner in Residence Program and upcoming events will be available on the HELI website.