Institute Fellow Explores Data Center Regulation Ahead of Great Lakes Water Conference

Carmela Sleva brings a life-long learner’s mindset to The University of Toledo College of Law. That tendency toward the new or unfamiliar — any opportunity to learn something — in large part attracted her to the College of Law’s Legal Institute of the Great Lakes Fellowship. Carmela Sleva is 2026-27 Legal Institute of the Great Lakes Fellow at the College of Law. And it’s serving her well as she now explores an area of the law that s new and unfamiliar to nearly everyone in her chosen profession ahead of the Institute’s 26th Great Lakes Water Conference on Friday, Nov. 13. Four national panelists are set to explore the intersection of water, technology and law, including one topic of keen interest to the Great Lakes. “Data centers are kind of the elephant in the room,” Sleva said. “There’s a lot of conversation on what needs to happen to regulate them, but not much actually happening yet.” “Which,” she added, “is kind of alarming.” Sleva is a third-year student at the College of Law, w