Aradhana Chandra

Associate Attorney

Aradhana grew up, went to college and law school in Georgia, and now puts her knowledge and passion into protecting the state’s natural resources and championing environmental justice.

She provides legal and policy support for the Georgia Water Coalition as well as hazardous waste/Superfund site management in Brunswick and Glynn County on the coast. There, her environmental justice work includes community lawyering and engagement with Black and brown communities. She focuses on coastal resiliency, specifically related to warehouse development in Savannah, and also assists the SELC air team with legal research. Aradhana is driven “not only by of the interesting and important work that we’re doing, but also because of the people I’m working with,” she said. “SELC is particularly special to me because of the kindness, intelligence, and inclusivity that my coworkers show on a daily basis. I also appreciate the work culture here—my work-life boundaries are consistently respected, and I’m able to have a life outside of work while still learning and feeling fulfilled by the work that I’m doing.”

Aradhana is most excited about SELC’s environmental justice work. “I went to law school with the passion and intention of working in civil rights and serving marginalized communities in some capacity, and SELC’s environmental justice work represents an extremely important intersection between environmental and civil rights. As a lawyer who is also a woman of color, I feel both privileged and responsible to advocate for communities that have not had adequate representation in the fight for so long.”

Of the many places in the state that she loves, Aradhana said she has “a particularly soft spot for Savannah. I have very fond memories of visiting the city when I was younger, admiring the Spanish moss that grows lush there, and enjoying the beaches of Tybee Island.”

• U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division, Indian Resources Section, law clerk
• J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, cum laude; Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law, Executive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Editor
• B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, summa cum laude