Deborah Williams

Deborah Williams is a Lecturer at the University of California, Santa Barbara, specializing in public lands law and policy. With over 40 years' experience in conservation and sustainable development, she holds a B.A. from Pomona College (Biology/Economics) and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she co-founded the Harvard Environmental Law Review.

• Former Executive Director of the Alaska Conservation Foundation
• Recipient of the Spirit of Defenders Award for Citizen Advocacy
• Advised the U.S. Department of Interior as Special Assistant for Alaska (1994)
• Led environmental litigation at Trustees for Alaska

Her research focuses on intersectional environmental governance, tribal sovereignty in resource management, and public lands policy evolution. She created the '50 Great Public Land Destinations – Santa Barbara and Beyond' resource guide and serves on the Goleta Parks and Recreation Commission.