For Immediate Release: January 9, 2012

Environmental Law Institute Elects NRDC Co-Founder Edward L. Strohbehn Jr. as New Board Chair

(Washington, DC) — The Environmental Law Institute is pleased to announce the election of Edward L. Strohbehn Jr. as our new Board Chairman. He has been a partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP for more than 20 years. His legal career includes substantial government and public interest-sector experience. He co-founded and served as a lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council (1970-1977). He was executive director of the Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President (1977-1981). Edward was a director of Resources for the Future (RFF) (1995-2004), and is a member of the Leadership Council of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (2001 to present). He was a law clerk for retired Chief Justice Earl Warren, United States Supreme Court (1969-1970).

In October 2010, Strohbehn, along with three Yale Law School colleagues, was awarded the Yale Law School’s highest honor—the Yale Law School Alumni Association Award of Merit. Strohbehn and his colleagues were cited for their pioneering role in founding the Natural Resources Defense Council and their extraordinary careers in environmental law. In July 2011, he was elected to the American College of Environmental Lawyers. At ELI, he succeeds outgoing Chairman William Eichbaum.

ELI also welcomes three new members to our Board:

Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Executive Director & General Counsel, Association of Clean Water Administrators (Washington, D.C.)

Alexandra Dapolito Dunn serves as the Executive Director & General Counsel for the Association of Clean Water Administrators, a nonprofit organization representing the U.S. state and interstate water authorities. She has worked extensively on water quality, water treatment, and regulatory issues associated with the implementation of the Clean Water Act. She is a published author, speaking nationally and internationally on water quality, water policy, sustainability, environmental justice, and the urban environment. She is a Lecturer in Law at the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. From 2007 to 2010, she was Dean of Environmental Law Programs and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Pace University School of Law in New York. Alex is also Chair-Elect of the Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources, American Bar Association.

Ann R. Klee, Vice President for Environment, Health & Safety, General Electric Company (Fairfield, Ct.)

Ann R. Klee is Vice President for Environment, Health & Safety at General Electric. She brings more than 20 years of experience in environmental law and policy to ELI. Before being appointed Vice President of GE, Ann was a partner and co-chaired the Environmental and Natural Resources Group of Crowell & Moring LLP, based in Washington, D.C. Ann also served as U.S. EPA general counsel (2004-2006) and was Counselor and Special Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (2001-2004). Prior to serving in the Administration, Ann was Chief Counsel of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

William H. Meadows, President, The Wilderness Society (Washington, D.C.)

President of The Wilderness Society since 1996, William H. Meadows has been active in conservation for over 30 years. As president, he leads a staff of 180 headquartered in Washington, DC, and nine regional offices, and acts as the key spokesperson and advocate for The Wilderness Society’s work on Capitol Hill and across the country. Bill has played an important role in the protection of national forest roadless areas, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and America’s national monuments. Since taking the reins of the organization, more than five million acres of wilderness have been added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.

ELI President John C. Cruden applauds the selection of the new board members, saying “All of ELI joins me in welcoming this extraordinary group of individuals to our Board. They are leading professionals from across the United States who will guide us to great accomplishments in the future.”

The Environmental Law Institute® is an independent, non-profit research and educational organization based in Washington, DC. The Institute serves the environmental profession in business, government, the private bar, public interest organizations, academia, and the press. For further information from the Environmental Law Institute, please contact Brett Kitchen at 202-939-3833 or pressrequest@eli.org.
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