Marc L. Roark

Marc L. Roark is a Professor of Law and Associate Dean of Faculty Development at The University of Tulsa's College of Law. He specializes in property law with a focus on housing, homelessness, and resilience theory. His work bridges legal frameworks with socio-economic challenges, particularly in marginalized communities and indigenous contexts. Roark holds an LL.M. from Duke University and a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans, alongside a B.A. in History from Louisiana State University.

His research explores narratives and norms in property conflicts, including squatting dynamics, resilient property theory, and economic development on American Indian reservations. Key projects include the economic impact study of secured transactions laws on tribal lands and vulnerability theory applications in housing crises. Roark has been a visiting scholar at institutions like the University of Pretoria, University of Essex, and University of Adelaide.

Roark's recent publications emphasize scalable legal frameworks for urban resilience, housing trusts, and energy commons. He collaborates internationally on projects addressing property law's role in crises, including pandemic responses and climate adaptation. His work frequently integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining legal analysis with socio-economic data and human rights perspectives.

• Education:
  • LL.M., Duke University School of Law
  • J.D., Civil Law, Loyola University New Orleans School of Law
  • B.A., History, Louisiana State University
• Awards & Honors:
  • Associate Research Affiliate Professor, University of Pretoria
  • Fellow, Emory University's Vulnerability and Human Condition Initiative (2022-2023)
  • Visiting Research Fellowships at University of Essex (2017), University of Adelaide (2019), and multiple European institutions
• Key Projects:
  • Co-author of Squatting and the State: Resilient Property Theory in an Age of Crisis
  • Economic impact studies on tribal secured transactions laws
  • Development of resilience theory applied to housing and Indian law