The University of Colorado Law School announced today that it is hiring Brad Udall as director of the newly renamed Natural Resources Law Center, which will now be called the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and Environment.
âColorado Lawâs brand, mission and core values are intricately interlinked with leadership in natural resources, energy, and environmental law and policy,â Dean Phil Weiser said. âIn the 1950s, Clyde Martz literally wrote the book in this area as a member of our faculty and he helped create the center in the early 1980s, along with our late Dean David Getches and others. Over the last 30 years, through a number of outstanding leaders and faculty members, including David Getches and Charles Wilkinson, the center has played a critical role in natural resources law and policy, particularly in the western United States.â
The centerâs new name honors Getches, who died shortly after stepping down as dean last year, and Charles Wilkinson, who is a legendary scholar, teacher and leader in natural resources policy and American Indian law as well as Getchesâ longtime collaborator.
âDavid and Charles were partners in the best sense of the word; it is a fitting honor to them both,â Weiser said. âI know that David would appreciate that they are honored together by renaming the center as a tribute to both of them,â said Mike Gheleta (Law â88), chair of the centerâs advisory council, who was a student of both Getches and Wilkinson at Colorado Law in the 1980s.â
Brad Udall is currently the director of the CU-BoulderâNOAA Western Water Assessment and brings a very successful career in natural resources policy to the helm of the Getches-Wilkinson Center. He will start as director of the center on April 1.
âWe conducted a nationwide search and we found the ideal candidate in our backyard,â said Associate Professor William Boyd, who led the search committee effort. âBrad is the whole package â a natural leader, a pragmatic and creative thinker, and someone who is deeply committed to solving our most pressing natural resources, energy and environmental problems. With his leadership and the strong support of the centerâs advisory council and community, the Getches-Wilkinson Center is well-positioned to significantly enhance Colorado Lawâs legacy of creative, interdisciplinary research; bold, inclusive teaching; and innovative problem solving.â
âI am honored by the opportunity to work with such tremendous faculty members, an important legacy, and a center that bears the name of two giants in the field, David Getches and Charles Wilkinson,â Udall said. âI am also proud to follow in the footsteps of the centerâs outstanding past directors, including outgoing Director Mark Squillace.â
The center will host its annual Clyde Martz Conference on Aug. 15-16, focusing on the landmark California v. Arizona case and interstate water transfers. The center also will host its annual Schultz Lecture this fall and a new Martz Symposium in 2014. Finally, in collaboration with the Silicon Flatirons Center, the Getches-Wilkinson Center will host a conference on April 23 of this year comparing the prospects for dynamic markets in electric power, water and the wireless spectrum.
To launch the Getches-Wilkinson Center, Udall, Weiser and others are planning an outreach effort to chart the newly named centerâs future. For those who have supported the center in the past, and/or are interested to support its future, Chancellor Philip DiStefano has promised to match the first $1,000 of all contributions to the center made before March 31, 2013. Contributions may be made at .
Contact:
Brad Udall, 720-984-2723
bradley.udall@colorado.edu
Keri Ungemah, CU Law School communications, 720-984-0457
keri.ungemah@colorado.edu
Brad Udall