ELAW U.S. Staff

Bern Johnson Executive Director
Bern directs the work of ELAW and develops initiatives to protect the environment through law and science. Bern was the first Staff Attorney at ELAW before assuming the position of Executive Director in 1993. His work to protect the environment has taken him to the former Soviet Union, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the South Pacific, and Central and South America. Prior to joining ELAW, Bern practiced law with the firm of Culp, Guterson and Grader in Seattle. He was President of the Environmental Law Society at Harvard Law School, where he graduated cum laude. Before attending law school, Bern worked on environmental issues in the U.S. Congress as a Legislative Assistant to Representative James Weaver. The Harvard Law Bulletin, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Grist, Christian Science Monitor, and E Magazine have reported on Bern's work with ELAW.

Lori Maddox Associate Director
Lori leads ELAW's work in Mexico and Central America. She works with the Mesoamerican Legal Strategy Group to protect the Mesoamerican Reef and coastal watersheds, and build public interest environmental law in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Lori helped launch the ELAW network in 1991 and has traveled to Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America to reach out to new advocates and help build their organizations. She designed and ran the ELAW Fellows Program for more than 10 years and directed the ELAW Technology Program until 2000. Lori oversees ELAW administration and finance. She serves on the Board of the Western Environmental Law Center, a regional public interest law firm in the Western United States.

Mark Chernaik Staff Scientist
Mark helps attorneys and citizens make effective use of scientific information to defend the environment. Mark received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Johns Hopkins University. His work has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A, and the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Mark received his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in May 1993, and has worked on litigation challenging pollution from pulp mills in the Pacific Northwest. He joined ELAW in 1992. Mark's work has taken him to Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

+1 541 687 8454 Ext.19

Graciela M. Mercedes (Meche) Lu Environmental Research Scientist
Meche provides on-site support for air, water, and soil quality analysis, and expert opinion on environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and environmental health.  Her work with ELAW began in Peru in 1991.  She joined ELAW's U.S.  office in 2003.  Her work has taken her to Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and Eastern Europe.  Meche has an M.A.  in International Studies from the University of Oregon, with emphasis on environment and development in Latin America, and a B.Sc.  in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from the National University of San Marcos.  She pursued graduate studies in Ecology and Environmental Management at Cayetano Heredia University in Lima.  Meche is a founding member of the Peruvian Toxicological Association and member of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC).

Jennifer Gleason Staff Attorney
Jennifer manages ELAW's Legal Assistance Program and collaborates with lawyers around the world to strengthen and enforce laws that protect the environment and human rights. She joined ELAW in 1993. Jen's current focus is helping lawyers challenge global warming by promoting laws that encourage the production of electricity from renewable sources, and challenging projects that produce harmful greenhouse gases. Jen's work with ELAW has taken her to Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Jen graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1993 with a certificate in Natural Resources Law. Jen is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Oregon School of Law, where she teaches Energy and the Law.

Liz Mitchell Staff Attorney
Liz provides legal assistance to grassroots attorneys outside the U.S. who are working to protect communities and the environment. She joined ELAW in 2007. Liz holds a B.A. from Middlebury College and was a Thomas J. Watson fellow. After graduating from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1994, with a certificate in Natural Resources Law, Liz was a staff attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center. Liz has traveled to Africa and the Caribbean to help partners protect communities and the natural environment.

Maggie Keenan Communications Director
Maggie writes grants, produces ELAW publications, works with journalists, manages the ELAW Fellows Program, and helps ELAW advocates build strong organizations. She joined ELAW in 1999. Maggie holds a Master's in Professional Studies in International Agriculture and Rural Development from Cornell University. She served for three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines and worked for three years in Uganda as a consultant for the Uganda Wildlife Society, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, and various USAID-funded maternal health projects. Her work at ELAW has taken her to Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ukraine, Bolivia, and Chile.

Glenn Gillis Information Technology Manager
Glenn joined ELAW in 2000 to manage ELAW's computer network. Glenn works with ELAW's international partners to help them use technology to protect the environment. His work has taken him to Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, and Thailand. Prior to his work at ELAW, Glenn worked as a User Support Technician and Programmer Analyst at the Lane County Department of Information Services.

Kalindi Devi-Dasi Bookkeeper
Kalindi began work at ELAW in 1996. She graduated from the University of Oregon in 1995 with a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish, and a minor in Environmental Studies. Kalindi has lived in or traveled to Sweden, Japan, Mexico, and Ecuador.

Lauren Ice Office Manager
Lauren conducted field studies at Kimana Group Ranch in southern Kenya and received a B.A in environmental studies from Austin College. Before moving to Eugene she was an Organizer, Senior Field Manager, and Program Assistant at the Texas Campaign for the Environment. Lauren manages ELAW's Eugene, Oregon office and coordinates the efforts of the many volunteers who make ELAW's work possible.

Chu (Cassie) Chen Program Associate
Chu Chen, Program Associate, joined ELAW in 2009. She is strengthening ties with ELAW partners in China, providing Chinese translation of legal and scientific resources, and helping to administer the ELAW Fellows program. Chu has a masters degree in environmental studies from the University of Oregon and a masters degree in environmental literature from Xiamen University in China. She is a native of Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Carla García Zendejas Environmental Attorney, on contract with ELAW
Carla works with ELAW as an independent contractor.  Based in Tijuana, Mexico, she has supported the efforts of international and national organizations on social, economic and environmental issues for the past 13 years.  She has helped win cases involving energy infrastructure, water pollution, and environmental justice, and advanced government transparency in legislation.  Carla has empowered activists with critical knowledge to fight environmentally damaging and potentially hazardous liquefied natural gas terminals not only on the Baja California peninsula but also on the U.S.  Pacific Coast and in Spain.  As a Fulbright Scholar she earned a Masters in Law from the Washington College of Law at American University.  Carla joined the ELAW network in 1997.