Within two months of graduation, 68 percent of the inaugural Master of Energy Transition cohort secured job offers or advanced study placements.
Dartmouth's Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society marked a major milestone in June 2026: the graduation of the inaugural class of its Master of Energy Transition (MET) program.
Approved in September 2024, the MET program welcomed its first cohort of 20 students just one year later, in September 2025. From day one, this interdisciplinary program set out to do something different, pairing a systems-level approach to energy issues with tailored one-on-one mentorship and immersive career treks to industry hubs.
The program's mentorship model draws deeply on Dartmouth's distinctive alumni culture. "Dartmouth is known for having one of the largest and most interconnected alumni networks. We were able to really tap into that," said Rebecca Foulkes GR'26, a member of the inaugural class now working at Halcyon, an AI platform for energy. "There are Dartmouth alumni on the Irving board, and a lot of alumni have gone into energy. That's been an incredible value-add. People come to campus and give talks. We were able to go to alumni events in New York, Boston, Houston, and San Francisco. Building that network has been incredibly valuable."
Students echoed that sentiment when describing the program's signature career treks. "These visits provided invaluable opportunities to engage directly with industry leaders and practitioners across the energy and climate sectors, bridging academic learning with real-world application," said Fred Burondwa GR'26, another member of the inaugural cohort.
Of the 20 students who enrolled, 19 graduated in June 2026. (One student was unable to return to the U.S. due to visa complications and hopes to complete the degree in a future year.) By July, 68 percent of graduates had already secured job offers or gained admission to doctoral and law programs.
New graduates went on to organizations including BP, ENGIE, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Grid United, Halcyon, Irving Oil, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), and Rhizome Data, as well as firms led by fellow Dartmouth alumni, such as Energy and Environmental Economics (E3) and the NorthBridge Group.
Among them is Riley Roach GR'26, who joined Grid United, a Houston-based developer of next-generation transmission infrastructure, as a commercial analyst. "Receiving this job offer was one of the greatest 'yeses' of my life," Roach said, "second only to my acceptance into the MET program."
The program's early success hasn't gone unnoticed. Members of the Irving Institute's Advisory Board and staff report growing interest from peer institutions watching closely as Dartmouth pioneers a new interdisciplinary model for graduate energy education.
The intensive, cohort-based MET experience equips students with the knowledge, networks, and confidence to participate in the global energy transition. As the Class of 2026 heads off to new roles—from Houston to Washington, D.C.—the Irving Institute is delighted to welcome the next MET cohort and continue building on this strong foundation.
Photo by Beam Lertbunnaphongs '25.
