Review Academic Leadership and Faculty Development in the Pace University USA Environmental Law Program
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University continues to solidify its reputation as a premier institution for legal education in the United States. Recently, the law school announced strategic academic leadership appointments designed to strengthen both its internal faculty support structures and its externally facing specialized programs. Professor Margot J. Pollans has been named Associate Dean of Faculty Development, and Professor Josh Galperin has been appointed Associate Dean of the Environmental Law Program. These changes reflect a deliberate strategy to maintain high standards in teaching, scholarship, and programmatic innovation at Pace University in the USA.
Understanding the Strategic Impact of New Administrative Roles
Academic leadership within a top-tier law school requires a delicate balance of administrative acumen, scholarly credibility, and a clear vision for the future of legal education. When a law school ranked number one in the nation for its specialty area makes leadership changes, prospective students, alumni, and legal professionals should pay close attention. The appointments of Professors Pollans and Galperin indicate that Pace University is investing in the foundational elements of its institution: the people who teach and the programs that define its public identity.
Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. highlighted that these two professors are exceptional scholars and thoughtful leaders who have already made extraordinary contributions to the academic community. By placing highly respected faculty members into these administrative roles, the law school ensures that its strategic priorities are guided by those who actively engage in legal scholarship and understand the evolving demands of the legal profession.
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Why Faculty Development Drives Institutional Excellence
Faculty development is the engine that drives a law school’s academic reputation. It encompasses the mentoring of junior professors, the support of ongoing scholarly research, and the creation of an environment where educators can refine their teaching methodologies. Professor Pollans steps into the Associate Dean of Faculty Development role succeeding Professor Emily Gold Waldman, who served with distinction for a decade. During Professor Waldman’s tenure, the law school advanced faculty scholarship, strengthened internal policies, and implemented key strategic vision elements.
Professor Pollans now takes the helm to build upon that momentum. Effective faculty development directly impacts the student experience. When professors are supported in their research and teaching, they bring cutting-edge legal theories and real-world insights into the classroom. For students pursuing a legal education in the USA, attending an institution that actively invests in its faculty translates to a more rigorous, engaging, and contemporary learning environment.
Sustaining a Number-One Environmental Law Program
Maintaining a top-ranked program requires continuous effort, innovation, and dedicated oversight. The Environmental Law Program at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law was ranked number one in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for the sixth consecutive year—and the seventh time overall. Sustaining this level of national recognition does not happen automatically. It requires an Associate Dean who understands the intricacies of environmental regulation, the needs of the student body, and the dynamics of the broader legal community.
Professor Galperin’s appointment to this role ensures that the program’s curriculum, partnerships, and national outreach remain aggressive and relevant. As environmental regulations become increasingly complex and intersect with business, policy, and international law, the leadership of this program must adapt accordingly. The selection of a scholar deeply embedded in both environmental law and sustainable business practices signals a forward-looking approach to legal education.
Analyze the Career and Scholarship of Margot J. Pollans
Professor Margot J. Pollans brings a robust and interdisciplinary background to her new role as Associate Dean of Faculty Development. Earlier this year, she was named the Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law, a testament to her significant contributions to environmental legal scholarship. Her academic focus sits at the critical intersection of food systems, public health, environmental governance, administrative law, and social justice.
This specific area of study is highly relevant in today’s legal landscape. As the nation grapples with issues surrounding food safety, agricultural sustainability, environmental degradation, and regulatory frameworks, scholars who can bridge the gap between environmental policy and public health are essential. Professor Pollans has established herself as one of the country’s leading voices in this niche, providing students at Pace University with access to an expert who is actively shaping the discourse.
Beyond her individual scholarship, Professor Pollans has a proven track record of supporting her colleagues. She serves as the Faculty Director of the Pace Food Law Center, where she has expanded the law school’s influence in food law scholarship and policy. She also launched the Junior Faculty Workshop to support emerging scholars within the institution and serves as a lead organizer for the nationally recognized Future Environmental Law Professors Workshop. Her active participation on the Faculty Appointments and Faculty Development Committees demonstrates a long-standing commitment to the structural health of the academic institution.
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Review Josh Galperin’s Contributions to Sustainable Business Law
Professor Josh Galperin’s appointment as Associate Dean of the Environmental Law Program aligns his scholarly expertise with the administrative needs of the top-ranked program. Since joining the faculty in 2021, Professor Galperin has been instrumental in advancing the law school’s curriculum and institutional partnerships. His scholarly interests span environmental law, administrative law, constitutional law, and sustainable business.
As the Faculty Director of the Sustainable Business Law Hub, Professor Galperin has worked to prepare future leaders for the growing field of private environmental governance. Modern environmental law is no longer solely about federal litigation and regulatory enforcement; it heavily involves corporate compliance, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards, and sustainable business practices. By leading the Sustainable Business Law Hub, Professor Galperin has fostered interdisciplinary collaboration across law, business, and policy, giving students a practical, multifaceted understanding of how environmental principles are applied in the corporate sector.
Furthermore, Professor Galperin has played a central role in managing and strengthening the law school’s longstanding partnership with the Yale School of the Environment. This collaboration includes an innovative joint JD/Master of Environmental Management degree program. Joint degree programs are highly valuable for students who wish to possess both the legal expertise to navigate regulations and the scientific or managerial knowledge to implement environmental solutions. Professor Galperin has also co-hosted the prestigious New Directions in Environmental Law Conference, which convenes leading scholars and practitioners from across the country, further elevating the national reputation of Pace University in the USA.
Explore our related articles for further reading on sustainable business law and interdisciplinary legal education.
Assess the Broader Implications for Law Students in the USA
For prospective and current law students, these administrative appointments offer several tangible benefits. First, the emphasis on faculty development under Professor Pollans suggests that the law school will continue to attract, retain, and nurture top-tier legal scholars. Students benefit from learning under professors who are at the forefront of their respective fields and who receive institutional support to publish, present, and engage with the legal community.
Second, the focused leadership of the Environmental Law Program under Professor Galperin guarantees that the curriculum will remain aligned with industry demands. As climate change, corporate sustainability, and environmental justice continue to dominate national conversations, students graduating from this program will possess specialized knowledge that is highly sought after by law firms, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporate legal departments.
The broader hiring trends at the law school also reflect a period of growth and strategic reinforcement. The recent appointments of Professor Allison Pincus as a tenure-track Assistant Professor and the return of Professor Jason J. Czarnezki as a tenured Professor and Faculty Director of Bar Strategy and Performance indicate a comprehensive approach to institutional improvement. By strengthening both specialized programs like environmental law and foundational elements like bar passage strategies, Pace University is demonstrating a holistic commitment to student success.
Examine the Future of Legal Education at Pace University
The integration of strong academic leadership, specialized program focus, and robust faculty development creates a resilient educational framework. As the legal profession continues to evolve, law schools must adapt their administrative structures to support new areas of legal practice while maintaining rigorous traditional standards. The Elisabeth Haub School of Law is actively navigating this balance.
By appointing administrators who are actively engaged in high-level scholarship—whether in the realm of food systems and public health or sustainable business and private governance—the institution ensures that its strategic direction remains academically grounded. Students looking to practice law in the USA, particularly those interested in environmental regulation, administrative law, or public health policy, will find an academic environment designed to challenge and support their professional aspirations.
The continued investment in faculty excellence and programmatic innovation at Pace University signals a clear trajectory of growth. As these new associate deans implement their visions for faculty development and environmental legal education, the broader academic community will likely see the ripple effects through published scholarship, enhanced student programs, and influential national conferences.
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