Rebecca Bratspies

Rebecca Bratspies, a key figure in the realm of environmental justice and law, is a prominent scholar and professor at the CUNY School of Law. Her work has won acclaim both at home and abroad, with her book "Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues and Heroes Behind New York’s Place Names" and graphic novel series "The Environmental Justice Chronicles" garnering multiple awards, including the Association of Public Historians of New York 2023 Award for Excellence in Local History, the 2024 American Legacy Award for US Fiction, and the EPA's 2023 Clean Air Excellence Award. Bratspies has written scores of law review articles and other publications, including the textbook "Environmental Justice: Law Policy and Regulation."

In addition to her writing accomplishments, Bratspies has been instrumental in the field of environmental justice through her efforts in academia and policy making. She has been appointed as the Founding Director of the Center for Urban Environmental Reform at CUNY and an internationally recognized expert on environmental justice and the human right to a healthy environment. Bratspies' commitment to the cause has been acknowledged by several prestigious institutions, earning her the ABA-SEER's Commitment to Diversity and Justice Award in 2021 and the title of 2022 International Human Rights Lawyer by the Centre for International Sustainability Law. Furthermore, she has served on the EPA's Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee and is currently an appointed member of New York City's Environmental Justice Advisory Panel.

Bratspies holds a BA in Biology from Wesleyan University and a J.D. cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, along with experience as a Luce Scholar in Taiwan. Her current project is in partnership with UNEP, developing "The Earth Defenders" comic series. She also has active memberships in the Center for Progressive Reform, AALS Section on the Environment, and NYC Bar Association Environmental Committee.