From Learning to Leading: A Student's Summer Fellowship Experience

Summer fellowships offer undergraduates a chance to engage with real-world issues. Arshi Mahajan '27, a Quantitative Social Science major, extended her role with the Energy Justice Clinic (EJC) through such an opportunity. Building on her work as an EJC Research Assistant, Arshi pursued the fellowship to deepen her experience with local climate action and energy justice efforts.

A Passion for Community and Change

Arshi's involvement with the EJC was driven by her commitment to addressing energy insecurity, particularly its intersection with housing crises and inflation in the Upper Valley. "The fellowship provided a platform to collaborate with students on energy justice and work with community organizations like LISTEN and the Lebanon Energy Advisory Committee," she reflected.

Local Impact on Energy Justice

Her experience underscored the importance of local changemakers in climate action. Arshi realized the need for understanding both universal principles and regional challenges in addressing climate issues. "My work with the EJC highlighted the power of local innovation and community-led climate solutions," she noted. "Hesitations towards the energy transition here are different from those in North Carolina, where I grew up, highlighting the need for local solutions."

Career and Academic Direction

Initially torn between industry and academia, Arshi now sees academia as a powerful lever for driving local change. "Working with the EJC helped me recognize academia's potential to support community-driven climate action."

Focus on Federal Funding and Local Challenges

During the fellowship, Arshi explored the impact of federal funding changes on local services by working with providers and representatives from community organizations. Her research highlights how these shifts affect essential services like food and fuel assistance, particularly for those between low- and moderate-income brackets.

Future Impact and Change

Arshi is preparing a research paper to critique current measures of energy insecurity, aiming to propose more accurate methods. "By equipping representatives with real data and human stories, we hope to protect vital programs," she explained. Collaborating with Dr. Sarah Kelly and Professor Jennifer Jerit, the paper will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

Ongoing Community Engagement

Arshi learned that sustained impact requires deep community engagement. "The most rewarding part is the ongoing relationship with the community and the ability to enact local change," said Arshi.

Dr. Kelly, leader of the EJC, emphasized, "Seeing students overcome climate anxiety through proactive problem solving with community partners is deeply rewarding. Arshi holds an impressive commitment to this work, and it's an honor to mentor her and the other students working on this project. Together, we are capable of profoundly addressing pressing energy justice issues." 

These experiences solidified Arshi's passion for community-led climate action and the significant role of academia in fostering sustainable change.