Leadership and Staff
Natural Resource Users Law & Policy Center
Co-Directors, Ethan Orr, Ph.D. and John Lacy, Esq., are committed to strengthening this innovative program to meet unmet needs of ranchers, farmers and others whose business involves the use of natural resources; and to promote the development of the next generation of natural resource professionals – lawyers, agency personnel, policy makers, judges – who will be making natural resources policy and legal decisions in the coming years.
Ethan Orr
Dr. Ethan Orr, Interim Director, is the Associate Director for Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Economic Development for the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. He is also a faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Education, Technology & Innovation and for the School of Government and Public Policy. He currently oversees the $62 million Water Irrigation Efficiency Program. He is also active in programing which addresses forest health, watershed management, soil health, irrigated systems, business development for farms, and crop production
John Lacy
John Lacy, Esq., Co-Director, is the director of the Global Mining Law Center and longtime professor of practice at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law where he teaches a number of courses related to the international mining industry. Professor Lacy is shareholder in the firm of DeConcini, McDonald, Yetwin, & Lacy P.C., where his practice has focused on mining and natural resource law.
Anne Gondor
Anne Gondor, Research Specialist, supports the undergraduate course ACBS/LAW 411 with logistics, curriculum design and aids students with online course delivery of materials in D2L. Anne’s master’s degree in Natural Resources is from Oregon State University with an emphasis in Water Conflict Management and Transformation. Previously, Anne worked 18 years with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as a Conservation Planner.
Sheila Merrigan
Sheila Merrigan, Communications Associate, assists with publishing the quarterly newsletter, maintaining the Center’s website, managing listservs and social media. Also, preparing progress reports, organizing Advisory Board activities, developing marketing materials and providing meeting reports.
Affiliated Faculty
John Barret
John Barret is the Director of the Natural Resource Use and Management Clinic. Before joining the faculty at the law school, John was an attorney in private practice in Tucson for ten years where he focused on litigation, particularly in matters related to commercial contracts, real estate, and natural resources. He has also worked in the nonprofit world in both Illinois and Arizona, focusing on environmental arts, education, threatened rangeland and conservation.
Michael Kotutwa Johnson
Dr. Johnson is a member of the Hopi Tribe in northern Arizona whose research focuses on Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) and Land Use Management schemes related to food, energy, conservation, and water. Michael is also a traditional Hopi dryland farmer and has given extensive talks on the subject. His scholarly works are published in academic peer reviewed journals as well as featured articles. He currently is an Assistant Specialist of Indigenous Resiliency with the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cooperative Extension, and the Indigenous Resilience Center.
George Ruyle
George Ruyle, Professor Emeritus worked as an Extension Specialist in the CALS School of Natural Resources and the Environment, served as co-director for NRULPC and continues to hold the Marley Endowed Chair for Sustainable Rangeland Stewardship. Professor Ruyle is an internationally renowned expert on appropriate and rational long-term natural resource use specializing in collaborative and adaptive rangeland livestock management. Stewardship of Public Lands Video: https://youtu.be/rJufvPRpduY