Water Law Fellow Program

Colorado River

The Water Law Fellows work on the most pressing water law reform issues of the day under the guidance of the GWC and in partnership with leaders from the non-profit, government, and private sectors. The intensive two-year program immerses Water Law Fellows in the real world challenges of water law and policy. They address critical issues affecting western watersheds, conduct reform-oriented research, and interact with public and private sector leaders to inform policy-making. The Fellows actively engage in water law reform in the public interest and hone their leadership, communication, advocacy, and research skills. The overarching objective is to create a matchless educational and mentoring experience that will prepare the Fellows to become leaders in the field.

Program Overview

The Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment (GWC) at the University of Colorado Law School employs two outstanding early career attorneys to serve as GWC Water Law Fellows. Fellows work on the most pressing water law reform issues of the day under the guidance of the GWC and in partnership with leaders from the non-profit, government, and private sectors.

The overarching objective of the Water Law Fellows Program is to create a matchless educational and mentoring experience that will prepare the Fellows to become leaders in the field. The intensive two-year program immerses the Fellows in the real-world challenges of water law and policy. During the program, the Fellows are actively engaged in water law reform in the public interest and hone their leadership, communication, advocacy, and research skills. The Fellows work with GWC faculty and staff, and with partner organizations on a wide array of emerging issues. This work is done at every level — federal, state, tribal, county, city, and international — and could include developing proposed legislation/regulations, policy implementation, and filing amicus briefs. Fellows are expected to attend and participate in major meetings, conferences, and hearings; publish white papers and law reform recommendations; perhaps offer testimony at hearings and make public addresses; draft media content on emerging issues; and work on projects that develop in-depth expertise in water law.

Housed in the GWC at Colorado Law, the Fellows have full access to the extraordinary resources and institutional support of the Law School. To encourage multi-disciplinary solutions, the Fellows will be able to draw on expertise in departments across the University and nearby national laboratories. Under the guidance of the GWC, Fellows will work with experts in NGOs, government, and the private sector.

GWC Water Law Fellow Job Description

Current Water Law Fellows

Frannie Monasterio

Frannie Monasterio joined the GWC as a Water Law Fellow in November 2022. She received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies at the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. After a few years working on stormwater-related water quality issues on the east coast, she went to George Mason University Law School, receiving her J.D. in 2018. Throughout law school, she worked on public lands issues as Law Intern at the Interior Board of Land Appeals, Department of the Interior, and a Law Clerk at the Wilderness Society. After graduation, she became a Law Fellow with the Interior Board of Land Appeals, continuing her work on public lands. Before her Fellowship at GWC, Frannie was a Legal Fellow at Defenders of Wildlife, where she worked on cases involving the protection of imperiled species.

Andrew Teegarden

Andrew Teegarden is delighted to be the Getches-Wilkinson Center’s newest water fellow! Prior to working for the center, Teegarden interned with EPA Region 7 in their regional council’s office. There he worked on matters ranging from tribal water rights initiatives to CERCLA enforcement. After finishing his undergraduate and J.D. at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and then passing the bar, Teegarden decided to expand his environmental knowledge and practice by attending CU Law as an LL.M. student. Throughout the LL.M. program, he participated in the Acequia Assistance Project, developed research on environmental justice initiatives, and worked with the Getches-Wilkinson Center to host CU’s 43rd Annual Water Law Conference. Andrew Teegarden is excited to bring his knowledge and passion for water resources to this fellowship. His passion for the environment doesn’t stop there though—outside of the legal world, Teegarden loves hiking and cycling all across the beautiful state of Colorado!

Former Water Law Fellows

The Inaugural Getches-Wilkinson Water Law Fellows

Chelsea Colwyn

Start Date: October 1, 2020

Chelsea Colwyn fell in love with rivers the first time she went rafting on the Arkansas River in Colorado. Since then, she has turned her love for rivers into an academic and career focus. Chelsea has worked as a Fulbright Scholar in Adelaide, South Australia, studying environmental water buybacks, a Research Fellow with Vermont Law School’s Water and Justice Program, studying the history of the US Forest Service and California water law, a Hansard Society Research Fellow at the London School of Economics, studying England’s privatized water sector, and for American Rivers. She currently works as a tribal staff attorney, and teaches a public land management summer law course. Chelsea graduated from Dartmouth College in 2004, earned a master’s in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School in 2011, and a J.D. from Yale Law School in 2018, where she was selected as a Wyss Scholar for western conservation. In her free time, she loves being outdoors with her husband and two young daughters.

Jaime Garcia

Start Date: August 3, 2020

Jaime Garcia is excited to join the Getches-Wilkinson Center as one of its newest fellows. Prior to accepting this position, Mr. Garcia was working as a litigation attorney for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in Austin, Texas. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Austin and received his law degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law. Mr. Garcia is also an adjunct faculty member for Wake Forest’s Masters in the Studies of Law program. He is excited to bring his experience and passion for preserving our natural resources to this fellowship. His love of outdoor pursuits drives his support and passion for increasing access and conservation of public lands and waters. When not practicing law, Mr. Garcia enjoys hiking and kayaking with his wife and their three dogs. In addition to their own dogs, he and his wife foster for local animal rescues.

2020 Water Law Fellow Program Report

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