Professor Nirva Kapasi Patel teaches animal law at Boston University School of Law. Nirva previously served several roles at Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Program including Executive Director, Clinical Instructor and Global Research Fellow. She most recently worked with students to file a groundbreaking federal petition on behalf of the Jain community to urge the USDA to accommodate for religious diet accommodations for all faiths that adhere to a diet free of animal products. Professor Patel served on several animal protection boards, including as Farm Sanctuary Board Chair. She received her B.S in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University, her J.D. in law from New England School of Law and her Masters in Animals and Policy from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Professor Patel is the Executive Producer of several award-winning documentaries including The Game Changers, 2019’s best-selling documentary on iTunes. Professor Patel lives in Weston (suburb of Boston where she banned the sale of fur via a citizens petition) with her husband, four teenagers, father-in-law, and pet rabbit who was rescued from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In her free time Professor Patel enjoys yoga, gardening and cooking vegan recipes.