Bullard Center Announces Honorees for Inaugural Gala

The Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University is pleased to announce the five distinguished honorees who will be celebrated at our inaugural gala, Ember to Flames… Inspiring Intergenerational Justice, taking place on April 25^th, 2026.

Each year, the Center’s mission is carried forward through five pillars, which guide our work across research, education, partnerships, and service:

• Education & Training – nurturing the next generation of environmental justice leaders through mentorship, curricula, and culturally relevant learning tools
• Research & Policy – advancing community‑driven research and shaping protective policy grounded in frontline needs
• Civic Engagement & Advocacy – translating knowledge into action through public participation, expert collaboration, and accessible decision‑making tools
• Networking – strengthening intergenerational Black and Brown leadership and equity‑focused partnerships across the HBCU Climate Change Consortium and other national networks
• Technical Assistance & Support – providing communities with the legal, scientific, communications, and advocacy support required to confront environmental harms

This year’s honorees exemplify these pillars in action. Their leadership reflects the heart of the Bullard Center’s mission to advance justice, empower communities, and forge pathways toward a more equitable future.

2026 Inaugural Gala Honorees

Dr. Rayford D. Richardson

Education & Training

Dr. Rayford D. Richardson is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning at Alabama A&M University and a proud alumnus of Texas Southern University. His research sits at the intersection of environmental justice, climate justice, transportation equity, and community engagement. As a frequent collaborator with the Bullard Center and mentor within the HBCU Climate Change Conference, Dr. Richardson’s work reflects a deep commitment to cultivating academic pipelines that prepare students to address complex environmental challenges through justice‑centered planning and policy.

Dr. Grace Tee Lewis

Civic Engagement & Advocacy

Dr. Grace Tee Lewis is a Senior Health Scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, where her work bridges environmental epidemiology, community air monitoring, and geospatial screening tools to advance climate and health equity. Her research focuses on the health impacts of hazardous and criteria air pollutants, particularly in climate and environmental justice communities. Through her work addressing exposures from petrochemical facilities and transportation systems, as well as her leadership in disaster planning and resilience‑building, Dr. Lewis continues to elevate community‑driven science as a powerful tool for policy change.

Elizabeth Love

Networking

Elizabeth Love is the CEO of the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation and formerly served as Senior Program Officer at Houston Endowment, where she led environmental and health initiatives for more than a decade. Her visionary leadership was instrumental in the creation of the Bullard Center, grounding institutional investment in long‑standing relationships, trust, and shared values. Through her work across philanthropy, public health, and national funder networks, Elizabeth Love has strengthened collaborations that expand the reach and impact of environmental and climate justice efforts nationwide.

Dr. Regan F. Patterson

Research & Policy

Dr. Regan Patterson is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UCLA and Principal Investigator of the Engineering Environmental Justice Lab. Her work examines how transportation and infrastructure policies shape pollution exposure disparities, centering place‑based, community‑driven interventions. A former Transportation Equity Research Fellow for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Dr. Patterson’s scholarship and mentorship exemplify the Bullard Center’s commitment to educating and empowering the next generation of environmental justice leaders at the intersection of engineering, policy, and community engagement.

Sarah Stokes

Technical Assistance & Support

Sarah Stokes is a Senior Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, where she leads infrastructure litigation across the Southeast. For more than sixteen years, she has fought alongside communities bearing the brunt of environmental injustice to secure cleaner air, safer water, and meaningful accountability. Her legal victories — including historic settlements in North Birmingham and her ongoing work with the Shiloh community in partnership with the Bullard Center — exemplify advocacy rooted in community trust, legal excellence, and justice‑centered action.

 Each honoree embodies the values that have shaped the environmental and climate justice movement and continues to inspire our students, partners, and communities. Their work carries forward a legacy built on courage, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

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