In this conversation, Bill Piermattei speaks with Jonathan Nwagbaraocha, Carey Law Environmental Law Program alumnus, President of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER), to discuss his career journey, his role in SEER, and the future of diversity and sustainability in environmental law.
Jonathan’s career path has been anything but conventional, weaving through advocacy, public policy, and global consulting before landing at the intersection of law and sustainability. After completing a dual degree—a JD in law and a master's in public policy at the University of Maryland—he began his journey clerking for Judge Vicki Ballou-Watts in Baltimore County. From there, he served as a family advocate attorney for the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning (now Green & Healthy Homes), representing families with lead-poisoned children. His work eventually led him to a Belgian Environmental Health and Safety Consultancy, where he split his time between Washington, D.C., and Brussels. Later, after joining Xerox as an Environmental Affairs Manager, he seamlessly transitioned into a broader role with the company’s Compliance Leader and Environmental Health & Safety Counsel, leveraging his expertise for over a decade. Recently, he’s embarked on a new chapter at Cisco, where he’s advising on corporate environmental sustainability disclosures and strategy
How did you become president of SEER?
Jonathan: It’s been quite a journey! I started in SEER as Vice Chair for Publications for the International Environmental Resource Law Committee, and eventually took on other roles, including Membership and Inclusion Officer in SEER. Through these experiences, I really got to know the organization, its mission and section members, which is what drew me to accept further responsibility. After years of committee work and service, I was nominated to become Chair. It’s a multi-year commitment that starts as Vice Chair, then Chair-Elect, and finally, Chair.
Did you have a goal to become Chair, or was it something that evolved?
Jonathan: It was never something that was even remotely on my radar for various reasons. I was very much focused on the tasks ahead, and not so much that it could lead to that. I was focused on doing the best I could in each role. But when I became Membership and Inclusion Officer, I noticed people were truly receptive to my ideas around diversity, equity and inclusion.
So, was there a pivotal moment that shifted your goals?
Jonathan: Yes, the transition to Membership and Inclusion Officer was that turning point. SEER was already warm and welcoming, but, like most of the legal profession, we needed to be intentional to increase diversity. The leadership’s openness to change really resonated with me, and I felt like I was in a place where I could make an impact.
I think I’m the first person of color in the role, the first African American male, and one of the youngest ever to hold it. There might be one other person who was around my age, but I’m one of the youngest for sure. So, it was a position I never imagined myself in. And then suddenly, it was happening.
It became the main catalyst for me because I’d been involved with the committees and was already part of the council, which is SEER’s leadership body. I could see what was happening and the direction things were going. Becoming an officer is a key step toward being considered for chair, so it was a big leap forward. And honestly, I went for it because I felt SEER was receptive to the change I wanted to bring. I thought, Let’s do it!
Reflecting on your work with membership inclusion over the past 4 or 5 years—specifically within the ABA and even the environmental law bar more broadly—do you think we’ve made progress? What’s your take on where we are now?
Jonathan: Yes, I mean, I still think there’s an opportunity to continue to be intentional. There’s still underrepresentation, both in the legal profession generally and in environmental law as a niche. So, I’d say there’s progress, but we still have work to do. It’s about more than just creating inclusive spaces where people feel they can be themselves. It’s also about mentoring diverse individuals and showing them that this is a career they can pursue. That’s one of my big focus areas—reaching young people early. One way is through an initiative we’ve started with the EPA. SEER and the EPA signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to host virtual and in-person events that introduce environmental law to students at all six ABA-accredited HBCUs law schools. We want these students to know this is a real path for them. And we’re looking at even younger students too with our middle school outreach, which was the age when I became interested in the environment.
That’s an impressive initiative! Do you feel the push for diversity aligned in 2020 in the wake of George Floyd’s death and the Black Lives Matter movement?
Jonathan: Absolutely. A lot of this happened around 2020, in response to national conversations about racial justice. SEER reflected on ways to become more inclusive, and I saw that as an opportunity to help shape a more diverse environmental law community.
Tell us about the challenges and surprises of being Chair. Is the role different than you expected?
Jonathan: One surprise has been how time-intensive strategic planning is, especially around structuring council meetings to align with SEER’s strategic goals. It’s one thing to organize updates; it’s another to ensure those discussions align with our macro goals. Another surprise was the time needed for collaborative projects, like our MOU with the EPA, which took over a year to finalize due to coordination among multiple parties.
Do you have a particular initiative that you want to leave established after your term ends?
Jonathan: Yes, there are a few initiatives I’m focused on continuing and expanding. First, there’s the MOU with the EPA. I’d really like for that to become a lasting part of SEER’s work, long after my term as chair. It’s an important piece for building partnerships and promoting environmental collaboration.
Second, I’m passionate about our middle school curriculum outreach. This is a way for SEER to connect with educators and share resources that engage middle school students on environmental issues, and even open their eyes to environmental careers. This outreach is especially meaningful to me because my own interest in environmental protection was sparked in middle school—watching Captain Planet got me “bitten by the green bug” early on, and I hope we can offer students that same spark.
Finally, I’ve started fireside chats, which are informal discussions on timely topics with leaders from environmental law communities in other countries, like the UK, Mexico, and Canada. I’d love to see these continue as a way to keep members engaged and connected.