In Memoriam: Professor Richard W. Parker

Richard W. Parker, a 26-year UConn Law School Fellow and founder of the pioneering Semester in DC program, passed away suddenly last week.

Parker was a well-known scholar in the fields of administrative law and national and international environmental law. He has taught in these areas and managed the Semester in DC program, which gives students the opportunity to study in Washington, DC, while working as interns in congressional offices, federal agencies, and national non-profit organizations. lucrative.

Jennifer Mailly, Associate Dean for Experiential Education, remembers Parker for her tireless dedication to students as a deeply caring teacher and mentor. Nothing made him happier than seeing a student well placed on a rewarding internship in the DC area, Mailly said.

“The DC program reunions were filled with alumni who were so grateful to Richard for giving them the foundation to pursue a career in DC,” she said. Many graduates have reached positions where they can provide opportunities for students of the program, she said, and Parker has recruited them to further expand the network and reach of the program.

Professor Joseph MacDougald, executive director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Law, recalled Parker’s contagious enthusiasm for – and sometimes his frustration with – environmental law.

“Anytime Richard called me to discuss a conference idea or an environmental trend, even if it was about something I knew little or nothing about before the call, in the end, it was something. something that interested me deeply – because Richard cared and framed the problem. in a way that mattered, ”MacDougald said. “It was wonderful to see the world through Richard’s eyes for those times. This is what made him such a great colleague and teacher.

MacDougald said many students told him how Parker inspired them to change their research, pursue higher education, or just see the world in a different way. “Many lives and careers have been changed and impacted by Richard Parker’s mentorship,” he said.

“The entire law school community is deeply saddened by the passing of Professor Parker,” said Dean Eboni S. Nelson. “In the short time I had known Professor Parker, it was very evident how much he cared about his students and the law school. We will be eternally grateful for his many contributions to UConn Law and beyond, and he will be missed by all of us. “

Parker grew up in Edinburgh, Texas. He received a BA in Politics from Princeton University and was appointed Rhodes Scholar. He received a doctorate in politics from the University of Oxford in 1982 and a JD from Yale University in 1985. Prior to his appointment, he worked in the Office of the United States Trade Representative at the United States Trade Protection Agency. environment and the law firm of O’Melveny and Myers. at UConn Law School in 1995.

He has also been a consultant to several national and international organizations, including the European Commission on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, and has participated in the work of the American Bar Association, most recently as chairman of the Committee of the environment and natural resources in the Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Section.

Parker leaves his wife, Edith Cecil; two daughters, Claire Parker and Ellida Parker; one daughter-in-law, Eloise Stancioff; a brother and a sister-in-law, Daniel and Julie Parker; two sisters, Genny Abbott and Peggy Parker; one brother-in-law, Kurt Abbott; and his ex-wife, Sarah McNamer.

The memorial service will be private. Condolences can be sent to [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to consider a donation to the Natural Resources Defense Council.