Maria Savasta-Kennedy directs the Externship program and teaches Environmental law, Environmental Law Practice and Policy, and Pretrial Litigation at the law school. She began her teaching career at NYU School of Law's Lawyering Program. Before teaching, Professor Savasta-Kennedy litigated federal and state environmental, civil rights and commercial cases. She represented grass roots organizations in complex environmental cases at both the trial and appellate level while an associate attorney with Earth Justice. While in private practice, Professor Savasta-Kennedy helped found the American Bar Association PROBAR project, a program creating volunteer opportunities for private attorneys across the country interested in representing political asylum applicants. She served as Co-Director of the NITA Southeastern Regional Trial Advocacy Program from 1998 through 2003. She began directing the UNC School of Law's Externship in 1999, its first year of operation.
Professor Savasta-Kennedy has taught CLE programs on environmental law and practical skills. Her research interests include social and environmental justice, and exploring regulatory and market responses to pollution control and climate change. She serves as a faculty adviser for the Environmental Law Project, the Carbon Reduction Working Group, the Low Income Weatherization Project, and the International Environmental Moot Court Team.
Professor Savasta-Kennedy has received a Fulbright award to teach environmental law in Xi'an China for the 2012 Spring semester.
Curriculum Vitae