Greg Dotson, JD ’95, assistant professor of law at the University of Oregon School of Law, will take a leave of absence to accept the position of Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the U.S. Senate,” said Dotson. “I look forward to helping Chairman Tom Carper and committee members achieve their goals for addressing the urgent threat of climate change.”
The Committee on Environment and Public Works has legislative jurisdiction over environmental protection, national climate change policy, and federal programs for investment in infrastructure.
“The chief counsel position represents the kind of work that the University of Oregon’s Environment Initiative aspires to support,” said Provost and Senior Vice President Patrick Phillips. “Our faculty and scholars have the expertise to help solve the nation’s most pressing public policy problems. Greg is a great ambassador for our institution who will do the kind of work that makes a difference for our nation and the world.”
Dotson is a faculty member of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center (ENR), where he leads the Energy Law and Policy Project. He teaches Environmental Law, Climate Change Law and Policy, and the Environmental Policy Practicum. He is a nationally-recognized expert on environmental law.
“Our nation will truly benefit from Professor Dotson’s extensive experience and clear vision,” School of Law Dean Marcilynn Burke said. “His expertise in environmental law and policy and past experience on Capitol Hill will serve the public’s interest very well. And his future teaching and research as a professor also will be enriched by this experience.”
Dotson served as U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman’s lead energy and environmental policy staffer from 1996 until 2014. During his time on the Hill, Dotson was the lead staffer on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, a comprehensive climate change and energy bill that passed the House of Representative in June 2009. He was Vice President for Energy Policy at the Center for American Progress from 2014 to 2016.
“ENR Center faculty have a tradition and commitment of bringing legal and policy expertise to environmental challenges facing our communities while preparing students for leadership in a rapidly changing world,” said Professor Mary C. Wood, Faculty Director of the ENR Center. “We greatly appreciate Professor Dotson’s service to our Congress and look forward to his bringing those experiences back to the University of Oregon.”
Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center
U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works