Alice Kaswan

Professor Alice Kaswan is a Full-Time Faculty member at the University of San Francisco School of Law, specializing in climate change law and environmental justice. Her work focuses on equitable climate policy design, federalism in environmental governance, and justice-centered adaptation strategies. She holds leadership roles in organizations like the American Law Institute and the Center for Progressive Reform.

Educated at Harvard Law School (JD, 1991) and UC Berkeley (BS in Conservation & Resource Studies, 1984), her career includes prior roles as an Assistant Professor at Catholic University and legal practice at Morgan Lewis & Bockius. Her research emphasizes bridging environmental equity with climate mitigation and adaptation policies.

Key research themes include climate justice funding mechanisms, state-level climate planning, and the intersection of environmental racism with policy. Her recent work analyzes California’s climate policies as models for equitable energy transitions and community engagement in climate initiatives.

Notable publications include Governing Grants (2024), Environmental Justice in State Climate Planning (2024), and Climate Justice Funding Lessons from California (2024), which explore funding frameworks, policy design, and equity outcomes. Earlier works address federal-state climate policy coordination and legal challenges to regulatory rollbacks.

• Scientific Awards: Elected Member, American Law Institute; Center for Progressive Reform Member Scholar
• Grants & Advising: Extensive contributions to climate justice policy development and academic mentorship

Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary collaborations at USF and through think tanks like the Center for Progressive Reform, focusing on climate law and policy solutions.