History Professor Mary Kelley was recently named the New Hampshire Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, making her the fourth Dartmouth professor to win the award since 1981.
Kelley, who helped found Dartmouth's women's studies program, will receive a $1,000 cash prize from the Merck Co. Foundations, which sponsors the award.
Kelley said she was delighted to win the award, which she called "as meaningful as anything a teacher or scholar can receive."
Dean of the Faculty James Wright said "Mary Kelley is an exemplary colleague, the sort of scholar-teacher that Dartmouth cherishes."
She has "enriched the experience of many hundreds of Dartmouth students," Wright said. Wright and Associate Dean of the Faculty George Wolford nominated Kelley for the award.
Mirian Cherry '96 said in the classroom, Kelley is "wonderful ... she is very accessible to students."
Kelley, who teaches courses on women's history, American cultural and intellectual history and topics in 19th-century American history, is currently on leave, doing research for her next book and working informally with students.
Kelley is currently working collaboratively with Presidential Research Scholars on a book about the intellectual lives of 19th-century American women.
Kelley, who has been teaching at Dartmouth since 1977, was awarded Dartmouth's distinguished teacher award in 1982. After nearly 20 years at Dartmouth, Kelley said she still feels "remarkably lucky to be here."
History Professor Jere Daniell said Kelley "deserves all the credit in the world ... she is one of the most active scholars in the department."
Among other honors, Kelley is currently a member of the Society of American Historians, an honorary organization to which American historians must be elected.
According to Daniell, the Society of American Historians is "the leading professional organization for people who teach American history."
Kelley is co-chairing the society's annual meeting. About 4,000 to 5,000 historians will attend this year's meeting.
Kelley is also a trustee of the American Antiquarian Society library in western Massachusetts.
Kelley will spend next year completing her book at the Huntington library in Southern California.
Kelley is the fourth Dartmouth faculty member to receive this award. Previous winners include English Department Chair William Cook, Chemistry Professor Charles Braun and Chemistry Professor David Lemal.
