Diana worked for CCAN from 2005 to 2015 as our extraordinary staff attorney and grants manager. She helped shepherd CCAN from a tiny staff of three – working in a backyard shed in Takoma Park – to the dynamic regional climate group we are today. This Fellowship honors her memory by helping law students in the region gain summer legal experience and follow in Diana’s footsteps as a fierce defender of the environment.

Bria Andrews was CCAN’s first Diana Dascalu-Joffe Legal Fellow in the summer of 2024. Bria received her JD from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law in 2023. She was headed towards a career in intellectual property law until she had her son. “After having my son, I wanted to tell him and his friends that I worked to make their world better. This led me to research opportunities to work in environmental law, which led me to CCAN,” she said.

She spent her fellowship supporting the Maryland and Virginia teams. The Virginia team was busy fighting a slew of proposed fossil fuel projects, including the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project. As we geared up to fight the plan to expand the already huge Transco pipeline system, Bria drafted a motion to intervene in the proceeding before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Only intervenors have the right to sue, so Bria’s work will directly help preserve our right to take the issue to court if the time comes. 

After seven years working on a state-level landfill methane regulation that will cut in half methane emissions from affected landfills, the rule is finally set to go into effect. Bria combed through plans that landfill operators had to submit to the Maryland Department of the Environment to determine what landfills were in compliance with the new requirements, what landfills were requesting exemptions, and what the timeline for compliance is. Bria’s efforts will guide our work as we watchdog the implementation of the new rule. 

In Bria’s own words: “My favorite thing about the fellowship is how hands-on it is and how willing everyone is to answer questions and share information. Because CCAN is a small organization, fellows get a chance to do hands-on work and learn from experience.” She’s enjoyed “developing my lawyering skills and refining my research skills all while learning about a new area of law.” 

We were grateful to have Bria contribute meaningfully to our work this summer and will begin the process of looking for our next Diana Dascalu-Joffe legal fellow in February. 

If you would like to donate to support this memorial fellowship, donate here.