The Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Awards recognize Dartmouth community members’ commitment to education, community building, public health, civil rights, and economic, environmental, and social justice worldwide.
Emerging Leadership Award
Recognizing employees or recent graduates who have served fewer than 10 years in their chosen field.
Sarah Kelly, PhD
Lecturer and Research Associate in Geography and Research Scientist and Co-Founder of the Energy Justice Clinic at the Irving Institute for Energy and Society
Dr. Sarah Kelly is recognized as an outstanding emerging leader whose work seamlessly integrates scholarship, teaching, and community‑driven action in pursuit of energy and environmental justice. As co‑founder and leader of Dartmouth’s Energy Justice Clinic, she is credited with building participatory, respectful research partnerships that directly benefit marginalized communities in the Upper Valley and abroad. Nominators highlight her commitment to co‑creating knowledge with those most affected by inequity, her mentorship of students as collaborators and change‑agents, and her ability to translate research into tangible policy and funding impacts. Her leadership stands out for its humility, rigor, and transformative effect on both community partners and student learning.
Entire list of 2026 Social Justice Award Recipients available here.