"For students to thrive in law, they must find not only competence, but conviction. I believe we must guide them to discover what truly moves them, so their careers reflect not just ability, but purpose. When purpose and profession align, success becomes not only possible, but deeply fulfilling."

Professor Pappalardo teaches courses on property and climate change law and co-directs the Center for Environmental Law and Sustainability. Her scholarly contributions include publications on energy law, sustainable finance, and water governance with articles appearing in the Georgetown Environmental Law Review, the Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law, and book chapters in edited volumes from the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Series, the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, and the Routledge Studies on the Governance of Sustainability in Europe.

A graduate in law of the University of Rome La Sapienza with a thesis on cultural property complemented by a master’s degree in governance and management of the cultural heritage from Tor Vergata University, Professor Pappalardo is interested in working at the intersection of property rights with energy and climate policy. Her work addresses legal aspects of the energy transition and sustainability practices across national and international dimensions.

Before furthering her legal education in the United States, Professor Pappalardo practiced law in Italy representing individual and corporate clients in a wide range of civil and administrative law proceedings. She also served briefly in the General Counsel Office of the Ministry of Culture advancing the protection of sites and artifacts of cultural significance, and was a foreign legal associate with Fulbright & Jaworski LLP in their corporate and securities law practice in Washington D.C.

While pursuing her S.J.D. at Georgetown Law, Professor Pappalardo worked with the Georgetown Climate Center on state and federal climate mitigation initiatives, co-led the Energy Democracy Project for the State and Local Government Program, and was an International Economic Law Fellow at the Institute of International Economic Law. Prior to her time at Georgetown, she was a visiting research scholar and adjunct professor at American University, Washington College of Law, where she taught courses on International Energy Law and International Trade Policy, coached students in Space Law, International Environmental Law and European Law moot court competitions, and engaged in several other teaching and mentoring activities.

In addition to her academic roles, Professor Pappalardo has contributed to international environmental and climate policy working with organizations like the World Bank and the Environmental Law Institute. Fluent in Italian, Spanish, and French, she continues to engage with global legal communities and serves on the board of the ABCI Institute, an organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and dialogue on international trade. She is excited to discuss with students the different career paths that a legal education opens to them. 

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