Robert R. M. Verchick

Robert R. M. Verchick is a Professor of Environmental Law at Loyola University New Orleans' College of Law, where he holds the Gauthier-St. Martin Eminent Scholar Chair. He directs Loyola’s Center on Environment, Land, and Law (CELL) and serves as President of the Center for Progressive Reform. A former Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the Obama administration, he specializes in climate change adaptation, disaster law, and environmental resilience.

Education:

• J.D., Harvard Law School (cum laude), 1989
• A.B., Stanford University (with honors and distinction), 1986

His research focuses on environmental and climate change law, emphasizing place-based analysis to protect ecosystems and communities. Verchick has authored over 60 articles and four books, including the 2023 best-seller The Octopus in the Parking Garage: A Call for Climate Resilience, which won a Choice Outstanding Academic Title award. His work spans legal frameworks for disaster preparedness, energy policy, and environmental justice.

Scientific Awards:

• 2023 Choice Outstanding Academic Title for The Octopus in the Parking Garage
• Teaching awards from Loyola, Tulane, and Harvard Universities

Verchick has served on Louisiana’s Climate Emissions Task Force and held visiting professorships at Yale, Peking, and Aarhus Universities. He is a Harvard-Radcliffe Fellow (2023-24) and contributes commentary to outlets like the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. He hosts the Connect the Dots podcast, exploring intersections of climate resilience, energy justice, and public health.