Former Chairman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to Speak on Baylor Environmental Law Forum

by Julie Carlson, director of communications, Baylor Law School, (254) 710-6681

Kathleen White, former commissioner and chairman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, will be the featured speaker at Baylor Law School's annual Environmental Law Forum. The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, in room 127 of the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center.

"With the support and encouragement from the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, the forum provides students an opportunity to learn about one or more contemporary substantive issues in Environmental Law from environmental practitioners and other experts," said Walt Shelton, an adjunct professor and Austin attorney who teaches environmental law, natural resources and business issues in environmental law at Baylor Law School.

A writer and consultant on environmental laws, natural resource policy, and ranching history, White received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Stanford University. She also studied comparative religion at Princeton University and law at Texas Tech University.

She is co-owner of White Herefords and is a partner with her husband in a 115-year-old ranching operation in Jeff Davis and Presidio counties. She also served as director of Private Lands and the Environment for the National Cattlemen's Association in Washington, D.C. She has served as director of the Ranching Heritage Association, and was a special assistant in the White House Office of First Lady Nancy Reagan.

White was appointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry as chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Oct. 20, 2003. Her term expired on Aug. 31, 2007. Before her term as commissioner, she also served on the Texas Water Development Board. She also sits on the board of the Texas Water Foundation and the Texas Natural Resource Foundation.

She is a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattleraisers Association, the Texas Hereford Association and the American Hereford Association. She is a former commissioner of the Texas Strategic Economic Development Planning Commission and a former board member of the Texas Wildlife Association and the National Cattlemen's Legal Defense Fund.