Nate Cooper, Legal Intern
Nate Cooper is currently the vice president of the Environmental Law Society at the University of San Diego School of Law where he is entering his third year of law school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UC San Diego in 2004, and spent his undergraduate summers giving kayak and scuba dive tours of the La Jolla Shores marine reserve. Through USD’s Environmental Law Clinic Nate has been involved with several major local environmental issues, including the opposition of proposals to construct power lines crossing Anza Borego Desert State Park and a private military training facility in Potrero Valley. He also researched and wrote on the implementation to date of California’s Marine Life Protection Act, which aims to establish a coordinated network of marine protected areas across the state.
Chuck Gates, Legal Intern
Chuck Gates recently completed his first year at Chapman University School of Law in Orange, where he is a part of the Environmental, Land Use, and Real Estate Program. Prior to law school, Chuck was a communications specialist for the administration of Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. serving in the state’s Departments of Natural Resources, Environment, and Planning. As a spokesperson for the administration’s environmental and smart growth policies he managed contact with the media, edited publications, and directed website development. At Coastkeeper he puts the conserve in conservative and is working on wetlands related issues in the region and the state. Chuck received his undergraduate degree in Human Biology from Stanford University in 2001.
Jacque Gruber, Legal Intern
Jacque is entering her third year of law school at the University of San Diego. At USD she is active in the Environmental Law Society and a member of the San Diego Law Review. She also participated in the USD Environmental Law Clinic. Last summer, Jacque interned at Inland Empire Waterkeeper, a newly formed branch of Orange County Coastkeeper. At I.E. Waterkeeper, she focused primarily on stormwater runoff and the NPDES permitting process. Prior to law school, Jacque attended Tulane University of New Orleans, double majoring in environmental studies and philosophy.
Dara Heffler, Legal Intern
Dara Heffler is currently a second year law student where she is focusing on environmental and health law. Prior to law school, Dara worked as an Associate Transit Planner for the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) where her department conducted a comprehensive analysis and restructure of the entire transit system. Directly out of college, Dara worked for the Texas Department of Transportation where she served as the Ozone Action Day Coordinator, facilitated federal and state grant programs, and participated in regional programs to improve air quality. At Coastkeeper, Dara is pursuing her interests in environmental policy and sustainable development. Dara received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Geography with an emphasis on Environmental Resource Management.
Gina Nicholls, Legal Intern
Gina Nicholls is a second year student enrolled in the Public Interest Law and Policy Program at the University of California – Los Angeles School of Law. Prior to law school, Gina served as an officer in the United States Navy, managing shipboard operations, engineering, and Clean Water Act compliance. After completing her service, Gina worked in San Francisco as an environmental engineer for a small consulting firm. In this capacity, Gina regularly supported the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Emergency Response Section by providing on-call technical assessment of environmental hazards, training local officials and first responders, and facilitating preparedness planning meetings and exercises. At Coastkeeper, Gina is exploring her interest in environmental legal advocacy. Gina received her undergraduate degree in humanities and engineering, with a concentration in Science, Technology, and Society, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Janet Park, Legal Intern
Janet Park will be going into her second year at California Western School of Law in San Diego. Prior to law school, Janet worked for a civil engineering firm in New Jersey in the Marine Engineering department where she worked on residential and commercial waterfront development. She worked on stormwater drainage, grading, construction inspection, and environmental consulting. At Coastkeeper, Janet is working on stormwater issues around San Diego County. Janet received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering and a B.S. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University.