Past ELS Boards
2011-2012
President - Emmett Pepper
ep6149a@student.american.edu
Emmett Pepper is from Charleston, West Virginia and went to Virginia Tech where he received a B.A. in Political Science. He worked for several years between undergrad and law school doing environmental advocacy and public relations, mostly in the Hudson Valley of New York and coastal Connecticut. His first summer internship was at a nonprofit that sues coal companies who do mountaintop removal. Emmett's favorite thing about WCL (aside from free pizza, obviously) is the fact that every single person he has met at WCL has done really interesting things in her/his life. Away from law school, he spends time with his energetic dog, Cayenne, who is very cute.
Vice President - Chelsea Tu
tu.chelsea@gmail.com
Chelsea is a second-year student at WCL. She received her B.S. in Environmental Sciences from University of California, Berkeley and worked for two years afterward researching coastal and marine management and law in Oakland, CA. Chelsea believes that nature is the true embodiment of happiness and she wants to protect what makes her happy. Other things that make Chelsea happy are drinking beer, being a tourist, and psychoanalysis.
Outreach Coordinator - Jesse Ransom
jr6813a@student.american.edu
Jesse Ransom is a second year JD/MA student at Washington College of Law. He was born in Mexico City, and was raised in Nairobi, Kenya, and Kathmandu, Nepal before moving to the US to study Political Science and Spanish at Brigham Young University. Prior to law school, and between work for a number of outdoor retail companies, he spent the majority of his time rock climbing, ice climbing, backpacking, hiking, and hanging out with his wife and daughter. Jesse is passionate about post-conflict development with a focus on sustainability and environmental protection.
Co-Secretary - Larissa Liebmann
laraliebmann@gmail.com
Larissa Liebmann is a 2L who majored in Environmental Studies at Brandies University. She discovered her interest in Environmental Law while interning at the non-profit Riverkeeper, and while studying abroad in Baja California Sur. She has spent the last few summers working for the EPA, and is currently interning at Oceana.
Co-Secretary - Joel Scata
js4467b@student.american.edu
Joel Scata is a second year JD/JD student in the WCL-Australia dual degree program. He studied Government and Economics at Connecticut College and participated in the Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies certificate program. He concentrated his Senior Integrative Project on the United States’ Energy Security and how the use of alternative vehicles and easily accessible public transit are crucial to its improvement. Prior to law school, he spent time as a Peace Corps Volunteer working to promote natural resource management, meaning he planted a lot of trees. It was great. Joel enjoys hanging out with his wife, and going hiking and biking together. His favorite toy is his road bike, which is the first item he will pack when he moves to Australia to complete his studies.
Treasurer - Tomi Vest
tomicarol@gmail.com
Tomi grew up in Southern California and received a BA from UCLA in Sociology and Political Science. After working as a paralegal at a boutique entertainment firm in Los Angeles, she decided to join Peace Corps. In her rural community in Northern Thailand she was able to work on several environmental projects. Since moving to DC for law school, Tomi has interned twice at the EPA in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. Tomi is an expert at navigating the WMATA bus system and has a love/hate relationship with chicken finger Thursdays at WCL.
