Hilary Semel, Executive Director (appointed June 2011)
Hilary Semel is the Executive Director of the Eastern Environmental Law Center. Hilary brings to EELC more than ten years experience in environmental law in the New York and New Jersey areas and more than three years experience in non-profit governance. In her legal practice, Hilary has handled a wide variety of environmental, energy and land use matters including brownfield remediation, environmental litigation, environmental impact statement review and renewable energy development. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Sustainable South Bronx, where she oversaw the transition from the founding executive director and board of directors to the current executive director and board. She served as pro bono counsel to Urban Green Council (the New York metropolitan chapter of the United States Green Building Council) and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Hilary is also adjunct faculty in the Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management master’s program at The New School. Hilary attended the University of Miami School of Law where she was an Editor on the Inter-American Law Review and received her Juris Doctor cum laude. She also has a master’s degree in Marine Science and Policy from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at University of Miami. From 1998 to 2010, Hilary was in private practice in New York City representing local, national and international clients in environmental, energy, construction and land use matters. Hilary is a graduate of Barnard College (Columbia University) and is highly proficient in Spanish and Portuguese.
William Schulte
William Schulte (BJ) is a staff attorney in the Eastern Environmental Law Center. BJ joined the EELC in 2008 as its first Public Interest Legal Fellow, as part of the program established for new lawyers wishing to gain experience in the public interest environmental law field. He is a 2008 graduate of Rutgers Law School-Newark and was a participant in the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic in 2007, working with EELC attorneys, as well as an Articles Editor for the Rutgers Law Review. While still a student BJ also served as a Legal Intern for the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Documentation Center of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. BJ is a New Jersey native and graduated magna cum laude from Messiah College in 2003. He is committed to public interest work, and is particularly interested in both domestic and international environmental issues. BJ is admitted in New Jersey and to the District of New Jersey.
Ogechi Onyeani, Fellow Attorney (starting August 15, 2001)
Ogechi Onyeani is a 2010 graduate of Michigan State University College of Law. Ogechi developed a broad understanding of environmental law as a law clerk at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the United States Environmental Protection Agency where she worked in the Office of Environmental Justice and the Chemicals and Waste Civil Enforcement Divisions. Ogechi is a graduate of Rutgers University-Newark and a long-term resident of Essex County.
Hilary Semel, Executive Director (appointed June 2011)
Hilary Semel is the Executive Director of the Eastern Environmental Law Center. Hilary brings to EELC more than ten years experience in environmental law in the New York and New Jersey areas and more than three years experience in non-profit governance. In her legal practice, Hilary has handled a wide variety of environmental, energy and land use matters including brownfield remediation, environmental litigation, environmental impact statement review and renewable energy development. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Sustainable South Bronx, where she oversaw the transition from the founding executive director and board of directors to the current executive director and board. She served as pro bono counsel to Urban Green Council (the New York metropolitan chapter of the United States Green Building Council) and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Hilary is also adjunct faculty in the Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management master’s program at The New School. Hilary attended the University of Miami School of Law where she was an Editor on the Inter-American Law Review and received her Juris Doctor cum laude. She also has a master’s degree in Marine Science and Policy from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at University of Miami. From 1998 to 2010, Hilary was in private practice in New York City representing local, national and international clients in environmental, energy, construction and land use matters. Hilary is a graduate of Barnard College (Columbia University) and is highly proficient in Spanish and Portuguese.
William Schulte
William Schulte (BJ) is a staff attorney in the Eastern Environmental Law Center. BJ joined the EELC in 2008 as its first Public Interest Legal Fellow, as part of the program established for new lawyers wishing to gain experience in the public interest environmental law field. He is a 2008 graduate of Rutgers Law School-Newark and was a participant in the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic in 2007, working with EELC attorneys, as well as an Articles Editor for the Rutgers Law Review. While still a student BJ also served as a Legal Intern for the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Documentation Center of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. BJ is a New Jersey native and graduated magna cum laude from Messiah College in 2003. He is committed to public interest work, and is particularly interested in both domestic and international environmental issues. BJ is admitted in New Jersey and to the District of New Jersey.
Ogechi Onyeani, Fellow Attorney (starting August 15, 2001)
Ogechi Onyeani is a 2010 graduate of Michigan State University College of Law. Ogechi developed a broad understanding of environmental law as a law clerk at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the United States Environmental Protection Agency where she worked in the Office of Environmental Justice and the Chemicals and Waste Civil Enforcement Divisions. Ogechi is a graduate of Rutgers University-Newark and a long-term resident of Essex County.