Professor John Kelly conferred as Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences
Fellows are distinguished scholars and practitioners that have been recognised for the excellence and impact of their work through the use of social science for public benefit.
Professor John Kelly from the Department of Management has been made a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, the national academy of academics, learned societies and practitioners in the social sciences.
John took up the role of Professor of Industrial Relations at Birkbeck in 2003. He is the creator of mobilisation theory in industrial relations, a body of work focused on the ways in which individual workers can become collective actors.
His seminal book, Rethinking Industrial Relations, has been highly influential in the field of industrial relations, receiving almost 1,600 citations. The twentieth anniversary of its publication was marked by a special issue of the journal Economic and Industrial Democracy and by a one day conference at Leeds University Business School, which attracted almost 100 academics and practitioners.
Professor Kelly is one of 65 academics, practitioners and policymakers who have been recognized by the Academy of Social Sciences for their substantial contribution and leadership in the social sciences.
He said: “I'm delighted to have been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. It's a great honour to belong to such a prestigious organisation and to enjoy such high profile recognition for my academic work.”
Dr Geoff Walters, Dean of the School of Business, Economics and Informatics, said: “I am extremely pleased that John has been conferred as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. He has dedicated his academic career to better understanding trade unionism and is a world leading scholar in this field. This Fellowship is well deserved.”
Professor Kelly teaches the Comparative Employment Relations and Employment Relations and Human Resources Management modules in the Department of Management.