Maria Savasta-Kennedy directs the Externship program and teaches courses in advanced Environmental Law Practice 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 the
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (now "Earth Justice"). Published opinions include: Association of National Advertisers, Inc. V. Lungren, 809 F.Supp. 747 (N.D. Cal. 1992); Committee to Save the Mokelumne River v. East Bay Municipal Utility District, 13 F.3d 305 (9th Cir. 1993); and Association of National Advertisers, Inc. V. Lungren, 44 F. 3d 726 (9th Circ. 1994).
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.
Curriculum Vitae