Speaker Mark L. Roark, interim dean of the University of Tulsa College of Law (top left) and UHLC Professor Emily Berman (top right) with UH Law Dean Leonard M. Baynes (bottom left) and UHLC Professor Lonny Hoffman at the virtual presentation of Roark’s talk “The City as an Institution” hosted by UHLC.
Feb. 16, 2026— Mark L. Roark, interim dean of the University of Tulsa College of Law, delivered the first talk of the University of Houston Law Center’s 2026 Colloquium of Law Series in late January. The event, also known as the External Speaker Series, brings together distinguished legal scholars from across the country to present their research in progress. This year’s series is unique in that it features all law deans.
Dean Roark, an internationally known expert in housing and property law and homelessness presented his talk, “The City as an Institution.” It was based on his paper, “Scaling Private Remedies to Public Problems: A Resilient Property Theory Analysis,” which traces the evolution of the U.S. housing policy, particularly the shift from public to private sector involvement. His analysis focuses on the Below Market Interest Rate program, the nation’s first housing initiative with expiring affordability restrictions.
During the talk, Roark analyzed the legal conflicts that arose between developers and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, centering on claims involving breach of contract and regulatory takings. By tracing how courts have resolved these disputes, often unfavorably for developers, he highlighted the challenges of relying on private mechanisms to address public housing needs.
He concluded by calling for a reevaluation of the balance between public obligations and private incentives, emphasizing the need for building a more resilient and equitable housing system.
Roark has authored numerous articles in U.S. law journals, including, “Homelessness at the Cathedral” (2015) and “Scaling Commercial Law in Indian Country” (2020). In the latter, he analyzed how tribal structures, resource constraints, and uniform commercial laws affect the adoption of secured finance legislation in Native communities. That work later informed the first economic impact study of secured transactions laws on Indian reservations, published in 2021.
UH Law’s 2026 Colloquium/External Speaker Series, held January to April, aims to foster scholarly analysis and dialogue. To learn more, click here.
