Tracy Bach
Professor of Law
Bach was a Vermont Law School faculty member. Professor Tracy Bach taught and published on climate change, international environmental law and human rights, health care and environmental health law, torts, and legal method. She received her BA from Yale University and her JD and MA in public affairs from the University of Minnesota. Professor Bach has taught in China, France, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, and Senegal. A 2009-10 Fulbright Scholar in Dakar, Senegal, her most recent work focused on climate change, environmental health, and the implications of both for the developing world. Professor Bach has participated in the international climate change negotiations with the VLS Observer Delegation since COP15 in 2009, and has led the observer delegation to COP19 in Warsaw in 2013, COP20 in Lima in 2014, COP21 in Paris in 2015, COP22 in Marrakesh in 2016, and COP23 in Bonn in 2017. She serves as a Focal Point for the Research and Independent NGOs (RINGOs) at the UNFCCC and a RINGO Steering Committee member.
Isabelle Blouin LLM ’19
Isabelle is an environmental lawyer from Montreal, Canada with over 13 years of experience working in private practice in the areas of environmental law at provincial (Quebec) and federal (Canada) levels. She currently works as legal counsel at Dentons Canada LLP, providing legal advice in a wide range of sectors within environmental law, including renewable energy. She has published various articles on environmental law, including a recent co-authored piece on the Charter of the Forest. Having received her LL.L. in Civil Law, Cum Laude, from the University of Ottawa and her J.D. in North American Common Law from the Université de Montréal, Isabelle was trained in both legal traditions and in both English and French. After having been called to the Québec Bar in 2004, Isabelle completed a fellowship at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in Washington, D.C. Her strong interest in public international environmental law and policy led her to pursue the LL.M. program at Vermont Law School, seeking to deepen her knowledge and eventually focus her work in that field. Isabelle enjoys traveling, hiking, jogging, snowshoeing, playing tennis and spending time with her family and friends.
Benjamin Canellys JD ‘20
Ben is a second-year law student at Vermont Law School. He received his BA in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from SUNY Geneseo and an MSc in Primate Conservation from Oxford-Brookes University. He previously worked in Madagascar, Kenya, and England as a primatologist before deciding to practice law. He worked closely with yellow baboons (P. cynocephalus) while researching conflict mitigation strategies in east Africa. Recently his work has turned to focus on the illegal wildlife trade in Africa and Southeast Asia, as well as wildlife security in Africa. He recently returned from Myanmar and Cambodia where he was studying sustainable governance, corporate social responsibility, and regulatory capacity building. Ben’s path has been marked by severe wanderlust and the good fortune to be able to travel for his studies. After receiving his JD, he hopes to work internationally and continue his travels and research.
Amanda Carrington JD’19
Amanda is currently a third-year student at Vermont Law School. She received a BA from Emory University. Before VLS, she worked as a paralegal handling bankruptcy and foreclosure cases in Atlanta, Georgia. While attending VLS, she became particularly interested in international environmental law and CERCLA. Her passion for international environmental law developed when she worked for Sanivation in Naivasha, Kenya during her 1L summer. This work inspired her to more actively pursue a career working internationally. This past summer, she worked at the New York State Office of the Attorney General, Environmental Protection Bureau. After graduation, she intends to use her degree to engage in international environmental law and contamination cleanup. She also enjoys playing rugby and hiking with her dog.
Victoria Hellwig MELP ‘19
Victoria received her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Saint Michael’s College in 2016, with minors in Global Studies and Philosophy to supplement her degree. During a short intermission in her academic career, she dedicated some time with Americorps NCCC and worked seasonally for the beautiful Horsford Gardens and Nursery tucked away in Charlotte, VT. Victoria is currently enrolled in a Dual Degree Program with Vermont Law School and the University of Vermont. After pursuing a Master of Environmental Law and Policy with VLS in the upcoming months, she hopes to build a strong foundation with a Master of Science in Natural Resources at UVM that will allow her to bridge the gap between the legal and scientific communities. Outside of her studies, Victoria loves to be out in the wonderful world she is advocating for, be it hiking, skiing, running, or photographing landscapes and their constituents. She is excited to collaborate with other students, professors, and global delegates to help advocate for a more thoughtful approach to how we utilize our resources and collectively care for our planet.
Charles Kuo JD ’20
Charles received his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from York University and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Texas A&M. Charles worked for over six years in industry. He worked as an Environmental Engineer assisting industry in complying with complex Clean Air Act regulations. His work led him to pursue studies in environmental law. Since entering Vermont Law School, Charles is involved with the U.S. Asia-Partnership performing comparative legal research in air laws between China and the U.S. In summer of 2018, Charles worked as an intern at Beveridge & Diamond, which strengthened his understanding of environmental law in the United States. After graduating from Vermont Law School, Charles hopes to assist in building environmental laws addressing air, water, and waste, issues in Asian countries.
Elizabeth McAndrew JD ’20
Elizabeth is in her second year at Vermont Law School with interests in Environmental and International Law. This past summer, she interned with the U.S. Navy at the Naval Academy and gained insight of the responsibilities of a judge advocate general. She is originally from Western Pennsylvania and graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. Her minors included Agribusiness Management, International Agriculture and Equine Science. Elizabeth’s interest in climate change and international law developed while in undergrad. She studied abroad in Costa Rica and gained an understanding of the hardships producers and the country were facing. Through this experience, she changed her focus from wanting to attend veterinary school to law school. While pursuing her International Agriculture minor, she focused her senior research on the impacts of climate change on developing countries.
Gabriela McMurtry JD ’20
Gabriela is a second-year law student interested in international marine policy. She earned her BS in Marine Sciences from Stockton University in New Jersey. During her undergraduate career, she visited nine countries to analyze the socio-economic impacts on local fish populations. She became more interested in the fisheries management policy implemented in these regions once she realized the harsh realities that overfished marine species caused for the coastal communities. Gabriela thus decided to pursue a law degree to improve fisheries regulation in areas not traditionally recognized as important stakeholders. During her 1L year, she worked as a research associate for the U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law focusing on Chinese fishing policy. Last summer she worked in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, primarily on surface water regulations and coastal management. After an amazing first year of law school, Gabriela is back at Vermont Law School ready to submerge herself in more international environmental law. Outside of the classroom, Gabriela serves as a VLS Student Ambassador, Torts teaching assistant, and Vermont Journal of Environmental Law staff editor. When she is not trying to save the world’s oceans, she is living up to her nickname “Abuela,” and baking sweet treats in her apartment.
Brian Nguyen JD ’20
Brian is a second-year JD student from Vermont Law School focusing on toxics and hazardous waste law and water law. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University where he majored in Biological Sciences and Political Science. After graduating from Rutgers, Brian worked as a Seasonal Inspector for the Middlesex County Mosquito Commission during the Zika Virus epidemic. Afterward, Brian enrolled in Vermont Law School to a pursue a career in Environmental Law. Brian is the President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, a 2L Senator of the Student Bar Association, Public Relations Coordinator of the Women’s Law Group, a staff editor of Law Review, and a Student Ambassador for the Office of Student Affairs and Diversity. Over the Summer of 2018, Brian interned at the New Jersey Attorney’s General Office in the Environmental Enforcement Section.
Christa Shute LLM ‘19
Christa is the Global Energy Fellow for Climate Justice for the Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School. At the IEE, Christa leads projects in the Energy Clinic focused on energy sustainability for low-income populations. Christa Shute earned her JD from VLS, magna cum laude, in 2013 with certificates in Energy Law, Climate Law, and Dispute Resolution. She brings two decades of leadership positions in non-profit, quasi-state, and corporate entities in business development and financing. Her work has focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency and telecom for rural populations. Her curiosity drives her to understand the complexity and nuance of situations so she can envision how to break through barriers and find win/win solutions. Trips to Pakistan, Brazil, Nicaragua and Cuba have inspired her to explore fighting climate change through the sustainable development of energy and telecom infrastructure for rural areas.
Daniel Webb JD ’20
Daniel is a second-year student at Vermont Law School pursuing a JD and a dual degree in corporate law at the University of Cergy-Pontoise. He received his BA in Psychology from the University of Mississippi. While at university, Daniel studied in Angers, France. He returned to France after undergraduate to teach English in Calais. Daniel then moved back to Mississippi to serve as Deputy Finance Director on Congressman Travis Childers’ 2016 U.S. Senate campaign. Afterward, Daniel relocated to New York City to work in public relations at the French Institute Alliance Française and later obtained his New York Real Estate License. His continued interest in French, Law, and International Business ultimately led him to apply to VLS. At VLS, Daniel is a Vermont Law Review Staff Editor and Student Bar Association Senator. During the 2018 fall semester, Daniel will travel to Trento, Italy for a course focusing on European Union Law. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys playing the piano.
Teaching Assistants
Rebecca Davidson MELP ’15
Rebecca Davidson is the Director of the Southern Rockies Field Program for the National Forest Foundation (NFF). She has over 15 years of experience working on natural resource issues, including in multi-stakeholder collaborative and partnership endeavors. Prior to joining NFF, Rebecca worked on protection of water rights at the Salt River Project (SRP), a water and power utility in Phoenix Arizona. At SRP, Rebecca focused on water policy and management, strategic watershed initiatives, and the development of projects to protect water supplies while also promoting watershed restoration and stream conservation activities. In her post-college years (in the not so far distant past), Rebecca worked for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and gained experience in federal land planning, natural resource and wildlife management, environmental regulations, and endangered species biology and monitoring. Rebecca has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Northern Arizona University, and a Masters in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School (VLS). After having participated in COP20 as a VLS delegate, Rebecca continues to fancy herself a ‘climate geek’ and in her spare time, serves as a Teaching Assistant to the VLS International Climate Law and Policy class, travelling with students to wherever the UNFCCC climate negotiations might take her.
Serena Tang JD ’19
Serena grew up in Arlington, Texas and earned her Bachelor’s degree at American University. Serena majored in International Relations and focused in International Environmental Politics. Her studies at American University broadened her interests to international trade policy and sustainable agriculture. After graduating from AU, Serena worked in New York City as a local food advocate and cheesemonger. After contemplating the power of the law and policy, Serena enrolled in Vermont Law School to pursue a career in law that focuses on international food policy and the environment. At Vermont Law School, Serena served as a 2017 COP23 Observer, a Schweitzer fellow, a Global Mission Scholar, a Symposium Editor for Vermont Law Review, a TA for torts law, an Academic Success mentor, and a research assistant for the Centre for Agriculture and Food at Vermont Law School. This past year Serena studied in Trento, Italy to gain some civil law education and then worked at the Institute of Governance and Sustainability in D.C. as a law clerk. This upcoming year, Serena will be finishing her law school degree and hoping to work as a judicial law clerk in rural or climate impacted communities.