Erin Kelly

Erin Kelly is the Fletcher Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences and holds a concurrent appointment at Tisch College. She earned her PhD in Philosophy from Harvard University (1995), MA from Columbia University (1987), and AB from Stanford University (1984). Her research focuses on moral and political philosophy, philosophy of law, and criminal justice, emphasizing reparative and transformative justice frameworks. Notable works include Chasing Me To My Grave (2021) and The Limits of Blame (2018).

Her recent publications (2021-2025) critique retributive justice systems, advocate for restorative alternatives, and explore accountability in criminal law. She has received grants from the Templeton World Charity Foundation for research on forgiveness as a civic virtue in post-genocide Rwanda. Teaching includes courses on philosophy of law, criminal justice theory, and civic studies. She directed Tufts' Civic Studies Program (2018-2019) and frequently lectures internationally on justice theory and moral philosophy.

• Education: PhD Harvard (1995), MA Columbia (1987), AB Stanford (1984)
• Affiliations: Department of Philosophy, Tisch College, Civic Studies Program
• Key Themes: Moral responsibility, criminal punishment ethics, reparative justice, social ontology