Donna Attanasio

Donna Attanasio serves as a Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School and Managing Director of the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future. She joined GW Law in July 2013, serving as Assistant Dean for Energy Law until November 2023 where she led the Sustainable Energy Initiative and coordinated environmental/energy law programs.

Education:

• AB in Economics, Smith College
• Juris Doctor (JD), Harvard Law School

Research Focus: Her scholarship centers on legal and regulatory frameworks for electric utility transitions to sustainable energy, with expertise in microgrids, community solar, advanced nuclear technologies, and energy equity. She examines the critical nexus between sustainable energy access, public health, and environmental sustainability through interdisciplinary environmental law and policy lenses.

Professional Recognition:

• Energy Bar Association’s Paul E. Nordstrom Service Award (2022)
• Consistently ranked as leading practitioner in electric energy regulatory law by industry publications

Leadership & Affiliations: Former President of the Energy Bar Association (EBA), chair of EBA’s energy law education committee, and DC Bar Nominations Committee chair. Serves as Internal Affiliate of the GW Environmental and Energy Management Institute and member of the GW Climate & Health Institute team. Also advises Smith College’s Center for the Environment, Ecological Design, and Sustainability.