Associate Law Professor Sarah Krakoff has been named interim director of the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law's Natural Resources Law Center.
Krakoff replaces Jim Martin, who left the center to become executive director of Western Resource Advocates, a Boulder-based environmental law and policy group focused on the Interior West. Martin had served as NRLC director since 2002.
"The search for a new director will begin soon, no later than late summer," said Krakoff. "The plan is to make an offer sometime this fall or early winter with the new director starting by late spring or early summer of 2005," she added.
As interim director, Krakoff said she would oversee current programs, implement a "visioning" process for the center to determine its focus over the next several years and chair the search committee for the new director.
"I am excited to help the center transition to its next phase," Krakoff said. "This is an excellent time to be reflecting on our role in providing balanced, objective research on natural resource issues, and we will be able to hand the center over to the new director with an even clearer mission and focus."
In 1996, Krakoff joined the law school as director of the Indian Law Clinic. As director she expanded efforts to support American Indian law, involved students in projects that summarized opinions of tribal courts and aided tribes in the creation of their own legislation. One of her major achievements was obtaining permanent university funding for the clinic.
She became an associate professor in 1999. Her studies focus on American Indian law and natural resources issues.
Prior to joining the School of Law in 1996, Krakoff spent three years living and working with the Navajo nation as a founder and director of the Youth Law Project in Tuba City, Ariz.
The Natural Resources Law Center was created more than 20 years ago to promote sustainability in the rapidly changing American West by informing and influencing natural resources policies and decisions. Through a comprehensive program of research, education and advice, the center seeks to inform and influence legal and policy decisions on western natural resources.
For more information contact the center at (303) 492-1286 or call Dirk Martin at (303) 492-3140.