Professor Burleson has an LL.M. in International Law from the London School of
Economics (LSE) and a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law. As a
Fulbright Senior Specialist she is available to teach a summer course. She began
participating in treaty negotiations at the United Nations in 1991 during proceedings for
the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development and helped draft the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Agenda 21 and the Rio
Declaration. She has written reports for the United Nations and delivered presentations
at United Nations conferences. Focusing on emerging International Law, Professor Burleson
has been an advisor to UNICEF's Senior Advisor for the Environment and to the New
York Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). She has also written
reports for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). A particular focus has been placed
on design, development and implementation of human rights and environmental programs. She
helped the UNEP Delegation and was a member of the National Wildlife Federation
Delegation to the Copenhagen Climate Conference and a member of the UNICEF delegation to
the Bali Climate Conference. Professor Burleson has also conducted legal research for
Amnesty International's London based International Secretariat and New York based
research division. She has advised the governments of Japan and Uruguay. At the
University of South Dakota School of Law, Professor Burleson's courses include:
Public International Law, Energy Law, United Nations Law, International Environmental
Law, International Law and China, Property Law, Water Law, and Environmental Law. Her
research addresses emerging International Environmental and Human Rights Law. She also
teaches Energy Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law and International Trade
and the Environment as a Fulbright Senior Specialist to Uruguay. As a National University
of Singapore Centre for International Law Visiting Fellow, she has researched energy
& water security and law. Professor Burleson is currently a visiting professor at
Florida State University College of Law.
