University of Denver Spring 2026

“It has been an honor to collaborate on this program for the past two years as we aim to build the community of the next generation of water lawyers.”

From backyard irrigation disputes to ongoing negotiations about the Colorado River allocations, decisions about water access and management have lasting consequences. Bridging disciplines, building expertise The Colorado Water Fellows Program spans six universities: DU, Colorado State University, Colorado Mesa University, Fort Lewis College, Metro State University of Denver, and the University of Colorado Boulder. More than 40 fellows come together regularly to share knowledge and develop skills, from technical expertise to the ability to build compelling narratives about the urgency of water rights. DU’s law students bring a distinctive perspective as the network’s first and only legal program. “Being a water lawyer requires you to have the skillset to speak on the technical aspects of water while also leveraging and exercising your legal ability,” says Sassman, who also serves as co-director of Denver Law’s Environmental Law Clinic. “The interdisciplinary nature of this network puts our law students in the same spaces as students in engineering and a wide range of other disciplines, so they can build those connections early on. It really sets up our students for success.” This academic year, five first-year law students were selected to participate in the program. They meet monthly, learning from experts and diving into critical water topics from the start of law school rather than waiting until later courses. Fellows develop individualized plans, which may include curricular and non-curricular course recommendations, clinical opportunities, participation on the Water Law Review, externships, internships, and attendance at water law and policy conferences. Each student is also paired with an alumni mentor, who helps them navigate the community of attorneys, judges, and experts known as the water bar—the professionals who administer and litigate water rights in complex systems across the West. A confluence of connection This year’s cohort of fellows reflects the breadth of experience and perspective shaping the future of water law, including individuals from across the country and a wide range of professional backgrounds. Among them are Madeleine Bradley, a former legislative associate for government affairs; William Nutt, a civil rights advocate; Nicole Wade, a first-generation college student who works for an affordable housing nonprofit; Anne-Marie Williams, a technology marketer whose upbringing in

Alexi Freeman, associate dean for community support and engagement and professor of the practice of law

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | SPRING 2026