Scholarship for Environmental Change-Agents

The Scholarship for Environmental Change-Agents was made possible by the generosity of Kathleen M. Falk. This scholarship was created to provide scholarship support to students pursuing a law degree with the intent of improving environmental policies and laws at a local, national, or international level.

After graduating from Stanford University and the University of Wisconsin Law School, Kathleen M. Falk began her career as co-director and general counsel of Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade. In that role, and then as Wisconsin’s Public Intervener in the Wisconsin Department of Justice, she spent two decades litigating groundbreaking court cases and changing environmental policy. Kathleen was the first woman elected, and longest serving, Dane County Executive in that County’s history. Her significant management skills, innovative land and water policies, new programs to help move families out of poverty, and reform of the criminal justice system defined her tenure as County Executive. Kathleen was later the first woman to run for Wisconsin Governor on a major party ticket (2002). From 2013-2017, Kathleen served as President Obama’s appointee as Regional Director for the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Region V, charged with helping to implement the Administration’s agenda on a wide range of human services and public health issues.

Upon leaving public office, Dane County named a 500 acre wildlife area in Falk’s honor. In 2022 she was inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame.

Kathleen M. Falk’s career has been dedicated to public service, advocacy on behalf of children and families, and bringing people together to change the world for the better. It has always been Kathleen’s belief that “it is hard to create change…but entirely possible.” As a reflection of this belief, as well as her career and passions, Kathleen has established this Fund to support students who seek a law degree with the intent of improving environmental policies and laws at a local, national, or international level.

Conditions of Award
To be eligible for this award, you must:

• Be a full-time UW Law student in good academic standing
• Have a strong desire to be an environmental change-agent by using your law degree to improve environmental policies and laws at a local, national, or international level
• Demonstrate financial need

This scholarship may impact your financial aid package. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to learn about potential impact on your current aid package.

For more information about Law School scholarships, visit the Law School’s website.