Meet the Class: Adriel Ghadoushi, ’26
Former Energy Business Analyst Hopes to Specialize in Energy Law
Hailing from Los Angeles, Adriel Ghadoushi, ’26, obtained a BS in Society & Environment, University of California, Berkeley in 2022. He has recently been employed as an energy business analyst at Honda Motor Company, where he has put his passion for the environment into practice helping to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Ghadoushi also co-founded a super PAC, Don’t Be Dumb, which focuses on fostering engagement by voter groups frequently left out of the political process. At the University of Chicago, he is participating in the Doctoroff Business Leadership Program.
Please describe your background and professional path.
I was born to a family of Jewish immigrants who fled religious persecution in Iran. Their story of perseverance has instilled in me a sense of urgency, commitment, and excitement to be a source of good in the world. With this as my North Star, I have been focused on accelerating the private sector's transition to carbon neutrality as a circular economy lead at Walmart and, most recently, on EV Charging infrastructure at Honda.
What motivates your decision to go to law school?
Starting at the community level with efforts to improve animal welfare, and moving to the state level with my Super PAC, Don't be Dumb's expansion of voter registration programs in four new states. I have worked to respond to insufficiencies in our institutions. As I continue to grow and face the challenges of a complex world, I must develop myself again through advocacy, but this time through the law.
Why did you select the University of Chicago Law School?
The distinction between business and law has become less defined in our modern, highly interconnected world. A dual background in business and law equips professionals to excel in business, whether on Wall Street or Main Street, and foster better business ideas and support by understanding the legal intricacies of each field. The Doctoroff Business Leadership Program at the Law School seamlessly integrates legal and business education to meet the demands of a hyper-networked business environment, making it an easy decision for me to pursue.
What do you plan to do with your legal education?
Building upon my prior work in sustainability, I aim to specialize in energy law to contribute to the equitable transition toward electrification. While working at Honda, I learned that a successful shift to a green future will require the participation and collaboration of lawyers, entrepreneurs, and environmentalists to guide the change. What will be valuable is a multidisciplinary approach—something I hope to gain at the Law School.
What are you looking forward to about being a law student?
Growing up in Los Angeles, one could not avoid plant-based foods whether one wanted to or not. Impossible burgers have made their way onto the menus of fast food giants; however, past the pilot menus and health proclivities of those on the West Coast, menus revert to their original animal-based items. With new animal rights protections on the horizon, and an increasing consciousness of the ethical and environmental implications of animal agriculture, I look forward to learning from the preeminent expert on animal welfare law, Professor Martha Nussbaum, as a student at the Law School.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
Exploring and experiencing new cities, traditions, and customs through traveling with my partner. At home, I enjoy sharing the richness of Persian culture through cuisine, often preparing vegan renditions of dishes such as kabob koobideh and ghormeh sabzi, for friends and family.
What is a “fun fact” about you?
When then-Congresswoman Karen Bass' office failed to respond to my letters and emails— I took it up to myself to prove to policymakers the importance of including the youth in their discussions and decisions. I was motivated to found the Don't Be Dumb Super PAC. Its central focus: fostering engagement among communities marginalized in the political process. In 2020, the PAC mobilized a voter advocacy initiative in more than four states to guarantee each citizen's right to vote by mail in all elections.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
My favorite quote:
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”
-Edward Everett Hale