Sabeel Rahman, professor of law, was named a 2024 Freedom Scholar by the Marguerite Casey Foundation in recognition of his work in democratic governance and social equity.
The Freedom Scholar Award, established in 2020, grants $250,000 to scholars whose research supports social justice movements and marginalized communities. The 2024 honor, announced September 18, recognizes four distinguished scholars for their transformative contributions.
“I am thrilled and humbled to receive this award and to join this incredible cohort of thinkers and changemakers,” said Rahman. “We are in a moment where it is urgent to imagine a more equitable and democratic future—and to do so in close concert with organizers, community leaders, and policymakers. The Freedom Scholars program is giving us an incredible gift: time and space to pursue the questions that might otherwise fall to the wayside.”
Rahman’s work has helped policymakers rethink public goods as key to social andm economic freedom. His scholarship focuses on building inclusive and democratic institutions capable of addressing today’s structural inequalities.
“At a time where rising autocratic politics, climate change, and chronic inequities persist, we need to reimagine our structures of law and governance,” said Rahman. “With the support of the Freedom Scholars program, I hope to continue working on these questions.” “Sabeel’s work embodies Cornell Law’s commitment to fostering impactful scholarship that drives real-world change,” said Jens D. Ohlin, Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law.
At Cornell Law School, Rahman teaches administrative and constitutional law and conducts scholarship on public governance and democratic innovation. He previously served in the Biden Administration as a senior political appointee and was president of Demos, a leading racial-justice think tank. Rahman is the author of Democracy Against Domination and co-author of Civic Power: Rebuilding American Democracy in an Era of Crisis.
The Freedom Scholars awards are a cornerstone of the Marguerite Casey Foundation’s mission to shift the balance of power toward historically excluded communities.
