Ya-Wei (Jake) Li
Ya-Wei (Jake) Li
Ya-Wei (Jake) Li’s career is dedicated to protecting endangered species. A trained lawyer, Li has contributed his expertise to Latham & Watkins, Defenders for Wildlife, and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center. Li now holds a position as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticides Programs at the US Environmental Protection Agency. Throughout his career, Li has focused on upholding and advancing the Endangered Species Act, wildlife protection, and health.
Evans, D. M., Che-Castaldo, J. P., Crouse, D., Davis, F. W., Epanchin-Niell, R.,… & Williams, B. K. 2016. Species recovery in the United States: increasing the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act.
Malcom, J. W., & Li, Y. W. 2015. Data contradict common perceptions about a controversial provision of the US Endangered Species Act. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(52), 15844-15849.
Evans, M. J., Malcom, J. W., & Li, Y. W. 2019. Novel data show expert wildlife agencies are important to endangered species protection. Nature Communications, 10(1), 3467.
Malcom, J. W., & Li, Y. W. (2018). Missing, delayed, and old: The status of ESA recovery plans. Conservation Letters, 11(6), e12601.
Ya-Wei, Li. October, 2020. When does critical habitat designation benefit species recovery? Center for Growth and Opportunity. https://www.thecgo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/When-Does-Critical-Hab…
In 2005, while in law school, Li was a Legal Intern for the Honorable Laura T. Swain in the Southern District of New York. In 2007, after graduating from law school, Li became an Associate Attorney at Latham & Watkins, specializing in litigation relating to endangered species and other environmental issues, his chosen field of law. Li was at Latham & Watkins for three years.
In 2010, Li joined the Defenders for Wildlife as an Endangered Spaces Policy Analyst. From 2010 to 2011, he volunteered at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park as a Volunteer Zookeeper Aide in the Reptile Discovery Center, feeding and caring for 80 reptiles and amphibians. At the Smithsonian, he also led events such as “Meet a Reptile.” In 2013, Li was promoted to Endangered Species Policy Advisor and then Director of Endangered Species Conservation later that year. In 2015, he became the Senior Director of Endangered Species Conservation and, in 2016, Vice President of Endangered Species Conservation.
In 2018, he spent a few months as the Director of Center for Conservation Innovation at Defenders of Wildlife before joining the Environmental Policy Innovation Center as the Director of Biodiversity. The Environmental Policy Innovation Center focuses on conserving endangered species in cooperation with landowners. In 2021, Li started his current position as Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Pesticide Program at the US Environmental Protection Agency. Since 2023, Li has been a Save the Snakes board member.
Survey and interviews conducted by Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative staff. 2022-2023. Yale University-School of the Environment. New Haven, Connecticut.
Ya-Wei Li. (2023). Linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/in/liy/details/education/