Board Of Directors

Brian Foley, President

Brian is a real estate attorney at Dickinson Wright specializing in commercial mortgage finance and related matters. He is an alumnus of Kalamazoo College (BA), Michigan State University (MS) and Wayne State University (JD). Outside of work, he is interested in environmental policy and law.  He also enjoys tennis, walks in the woods with his family and craft beer.

Bob Johns, Secretary

Robert Johns holds a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Purdue. While at Wayne Law, Robert was president of the Environmental Law Society and won a best brief award at the Pace Environmental Law Moot Court Competition. Robert has interned with the Michigan Attorney General's Environmental and Natural Resources division and the MDEQ. While Robert's law practice focuses on patents and intellectual property, his background of science and engineering gives him unique insight into environmental issues.

Elizabeth Arnkoff

Liz Arnkoff was born in Detroit, Michigan. She completed her undergraduate education at Michigan State University where she double majored in Human Resources and Political Science, graduating with honors. Liz subsequently attended Wayne State University Law School, where she received her Juris Doctor degree. She was Chancellor of WSU Moot Court, and an Assistant Editor of the WSU Law Review. During her third year of studies at Wayne State she enjoyed a judicial internship with Federal Chief Judge Bernard Friedman.

For 10 years Liz has worked for LexisNexis in the Law Schools. She is a licensed member of the Michigan Bar and certified by the state of Michigan in Truancy and Civil Litigation Mediation. She currently sits on the board and is a two term past president for the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center.  When Liz is not working she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, extended family, and friends.

Francis Grunow

Francis is an urban policy consultant, writer, and parade maker. A graduate of Wayne State Law School, in previous lives he was a member of the Environmental Law Clinic, director of Detroit's architectural preservation organization, a retailer, documentary filmmaker, and an urban planner in New York City. Francis believes that cities are society's best hope for figuring out society's problems, and that by creating sustainable environmental solutions in Detroit, we can set national precedent for how to best live together in the age of climate change.

Benjamin houston

Benjamin Houston is a graduate of University of Michigan Law School and has been a solo practitioner in Detroit for the past five years. During that time he has also functioned as of counsel to the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center and worked with GLELC on various matters ranging from oil and gas litigation to Detroit environmental justice issues. In 2019, Benjamin received his Master of Library & Information Science from the University of Michigan School of Information. He currently works as a Reference and Serials Librarian at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Shanika Owens

Shanika A. Owens is an associate attorney who primarily focuses her practice on corporate and real estate law at Butzel Long PC. Shanika is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School (J.D., cum laude) and Michigan State University (B.S. Economics). Shanika has appeared on behalf of clients in front of various city agencies, including the Detroit City Council. Shanika has provided counsel on several multi-million dollar commercial real estate transactions and mergers & acquisitions. Shanika regularly represents clients pro bono, particularly in civil rights litigation. 

 At Wayne Law, Shanika was a student attorney with the Transnational Environmental Law Clinic where she worked on environmental justice matters. She also interned with Hon. Avern Cohn of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

 Prior to practicing law, Shanika served as a legislative assistant to several members of the Detroit City Council. She advised policymakers on several issues including economic development and matters leading up to the Detroit bankruptcy.

 Shanika enjoys traveling abroad, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors with her dog

Mozhgon Rajaee

Dr. Rajaee is an assistant professor of public health at Oakland University. She frequently teaches classes focusing on environmental health and environmental justice. Her research focuses on environmental health issues through an environmental justice lens. Her current research focuses on school stressors and teacher health; and walkability and socio-demographic factors in Pontiac, Michigan.

She frequently utilizes exposure assessments and ArcGIS mapping in her research. In the past, her research has examined mercury exposure and respiratory health within small-scale gold mining communities in Ghana, and siting policies for environmental hazards around schools in Michigan. Dr. Rajaee holds a B.A. in biology from Spring Arbor University, a Master of Science and a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan, and a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Michigan.

Jim Roush

Jim is an avid lover of the outdoors and environmental protection, and spends as much time as he can outside.  Jim received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, class of 2005, and law degree from the Wayne State University Law School, class of 2009, where he took virtually every environmental law course offered and served as President of the Environmental Law Society.  He actively practiced law regarding federal energy matters for a major electric and gas utility company for many years before working as an environmental professional focusing on environmental regulation and strategy.  He resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife and daughter.  When not with his wife and daughter, Jim enjoys riding his bicycle, martial arts, cooking, and a good glass of wine, beer, or whisky.

Nick Schroeck

Nick Schroeck is Director of Clinical Programs and Associate Professor of Law at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is an environmental law expert whose work focuses on air pollution, water pollution, environmental justice, transportation, and citizen suit enforcement. Prior to joining Detroit Mercy Law, he directed the Transnational Environmental Law Clinic and taught Environmental Law at Wayne State University Law School. Schroeck also previously served as Executive Director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center from 2010-2017.  
 
Schroeck has litigated cases for several prominent environmental advocacy organizations, including Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Michigan Environmental Council, National Wildlife Federation, and Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice. Given the depth of his expertise, Professor Schroeck is regularly sought after by National Public Radio, WDET-FM, and other national and local media to provide analysis on current environmental issues.