Dr Sarah Elisa Kelly

Sarah’s background is in cultural theory and critical thinking, with interests spanning the arts, movement practice, environmental philosophy and nonduality.

She previously co-led the MA Engaged Ecology at Schumacher College and developed short courses including ‘Unravelling Time’ for Schumacher and ‘The World is a Verb’ for the New School of the Anthropocene. She holds a PhD in Environmental Humanities from the Royal College of Art which explored theories of time, empathy and more-than-human connection.

Prior to joining the college Sarah worked as a hand papermaker, having trained both in craft studios and in one of the UK’s last remaining paper mills. She developed an art practice in sculptural paper and visual poetry that she has exhibited internationally.

Alongside academic work Sarah has worked professionally as a facilitator for grief tending and Way of Council spaces and she is a qualified mindfulness teacher with the University of California. She has also studied extensively in the field of dance, embodiment and somatic practices, including Amerta, Authentic Movement, Body-Mind Centering, and Somatic Experiencing.

She has a devoted spiritual and ritualist practice and is especially drawn to work with rivers and bodies of water. She draws deeply on her varied experiences and deep commitment to ongoing reflexive practice in her work as mentor and trainee eco-psychotherapist.