News Archive

The IU McKinney School of Law is pleased to welcome Professor Sam Kalen to the faculty as the Robert H. McKinney Family Chair in Environmental Law. Professor Kalen previously served as a visitor in that role twice; the first time in 2021 and the second in 2023.

“I am excited to join IU McKinney and build on the school’s tradition and the McKinney Family’s commitment toward affording students with an opportunity for a robust environmental law program,” Professor Kalen said.

Most recently, Professor Kalen has been the William T. Schwartz Distinguished Professor of Law and associate dean at Wyoming College of Law. He is a recognized expert in environmental, public lands and natural resources, as well as energy and administrative law. At Wyoming, Professor Kalen founded and is now the co-director of the Gina Guy Center for Law and Water.

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Kalen as the inaugural McKinney Family Environmental Law Chair,” said Dean Karen E. Bravo. “His outstanding legal scholarship, extensive experience, and passion for environmental law make him an exceptional addition to our faculty. We look forward to his leadership in strengthening our school’s focus on environmental law, enhancing student success, advancing research, and expanding our community impact. We are deeply grateful for the McKinney family’s generosity and vision in making this position possible.”

Prior to Joining the Wyoming College of Law, he held various visiting or adjunct teaching positions at the University of Baltimore, Florida State University, Washington & Lee University, and Penn State University. And he has been a visiting Professor at the University of Colorado, teaching several different courses.  He is a co-author on a natural resources law casebook as well as on a book published by the American Bar Association about the Endangered Species Act.  His background and interest in energy law led him to co-author a book on the history of U.S. energy policy, Energy Follies: Missteps, Fiascos, and Successes of American’s Energy Policy, published by Cambridge University Press in 2018.  In addition, he is the author of many scholarly book chapters and articles, including publishing in the Administrative Law Review, Maryland Law Review, Florida Law Review, Colorado Law Review, Marquette Law Review, Rutgers Law Review, Ecology Law Quarterly, NYU Environmental Law Journal, and Duke Environmental Law and Policy.

Before teaching, Professor Kalen practiced in Washington, D.C. for over 20 years, both in the private and public sectors. His private practice work focused principally on environment, energy, Native American, as well as public lands and natural resources law; and he worked primarily on public lands and natural resource matters when serving in the Solicitor’s Office at the Department of the Interior during the Clinton Administration. Immediately after law school, Professor Kalen began his career as a law clerk for Justice Warren D. Welliver of the Missouri Supreme Court. Professor Kalen is active in the American Bar Association’s Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources, having served as a Chair of two committees and Vice-Chair on several committees.

The Robert H. McKinney Family Chair in Environmental Law was established with funding from the McKinney Family Foundation and was awarded for the first time in 2020. The school’s namesake, Mr. McKinney, and his family consider environmental sustainability as an integral aspect to the future of Indiana and their foundation serves as an advocate in this area.