Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law names inaugural Burke Distinguished Visiting Professor
The Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law is proud to announce that Professor Heidi Gorovitz Robertson, the Steven W. Percy Distinguished Professor of Law and Professor of Environmental Studies at Cleveland State University College of Law, has been selected as the inaugural Burke Distinguished Visiting Professor.
The newly established Burke Distinguished Visiting Professor Program brings nationally recognized leaders in environmental law and policy to the Coleman Burke Center for Environmental Law to teach and engage with students. The program is designed to expand educational opportunities for Case Western Reserve students by drawing on the expertise of distinguished professors across the country. Visiting professors teach a single course with flexible scheduling and may do so either in person or remotely.
"Professor Robertson is an outstanding choice as the inaugural Burke Distinguished Visiting Professor," said Victor B. Flatt, associate director of the Burke Center and the Coleman P. Burke Chair in Environmental Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. "Her scholarship, teaching, and public service have significantly influenced the fields of environmental law, energy law, and property law. Our students will benefit tremendously from her experience, insight and dedication to legal education."
Professor Robertson has been a member of the Cleveland State University law faculty since 1995 and is the Steven W. Percy Distinguished Professor of Law. She also holds a joint appointment as professor of environmental studies and previously served as associate dean for academic enrichment and director of student success.
A graduate of Tufts University, University of Wisconsin Law School and Columbia Law School— where she earned LLM and JSD degrees—Robertson began her career practicing environmental law with Pillsbury Madison & Sutro (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Professor Robertson is widely recognized for her scholarship addressing environmental law, environmental justice, energy development, property rights, land-use regulation, brownfields redevelopment and public access to land. Her research has explored issues ranging from environmental risk distribution and urban redevelopment to shale oil and gas regulation, renewable energy siting, and comparative public-access rights in Europe and the United States.
In addition to her scholarly accomplishments, Professor Robertson has earned significant recognition for excellence in teaching and service, including the Wilson G. Stapleton Award for Faculty Excellence and multiple university merit awards. She has received Fulbright appointments that supported teaching and research in Sweden and India.
"We are delighted to welcome Professor Robertson as the first Burke Distinguished Visiting Professor," Flatt said. "Her career exemplifies the blend of rigorous scholarship, practical engagement and educational excellence that this program is intended to celebrate."
As Burke Distinguished Visiting Professor, Robertson will teach a course for Case Western Reserve University School of Law students and participate in activities that advance the mission of the Burke Center. Her appointment marks the beginning of a program dedicated to connecting students with the nation's most influential voices in environmental law and policy.
