Rodel Institute

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC LEADERSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE INSTITUTE'S SIGNATURE PROGRAM IS THE RODEL FELLOWSHIP. CREATED IN 2005, THE FELLOWSHIP IS THE NATION'S PREMIER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ELECTED LEADERS. EACH YEAR, THE PROGRAM SELECTS 24 OUTSTANDING STATE AND LOCAL-LEVEL LEADERS, DIVIDED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES, TO COME TOGETHER FOR A SERIES OF THREE MULTI-DAY SEMINARS HELD OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD. WORKING WITH LEADING SCHOLARS AS MODERATORS, THE FELLOWS READ AND DISCUSS CLASSIC TEXTS DEALING WITH ETHICAL VALUES, DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, AND WISE AND EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. THOSE TEXTS INCLUDE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE PREAMBLE TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND WRITINGS BY FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., AMONG MANY OTHERS. FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE RODEL FELLOWSHIP SEMINARS, FELLOWS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER PERIODICALLY WITH ALUMNI OF THE PROGRAM TO DISCUSS CRITICAL QUESTIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP IN A NONPARTISAN SETTING. OVER 360 ELECTED LEADERS HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. THESE FELLOWS HAVE GONE ON TO SERVE AS UNITED STATES SENATORS, GOVERNORS, MAYORS, PARTY LEADERS, CABINET SECRETARIES, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

LAUNCHED IN 2022, THE JUDICIAL FELLOWSHIP IS FOR FEDERAL JUDGES AND STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES. BASED OFF OF THE RODEL FELLOWSHIP MODEL, THE PROGRAM CONVENES 18 JUDGES AND JUSTICES ANNUALLY FOR A SERIES OF THREE SEMINARS TO STUDY, LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER, BUILD TRUSTING FRIENDSHIPS, AND FOSTER COMMON INTELLECTUAL GROUND. THESE JUDGES (9 OF WHICH WERE APPOINTED BY OR ELECTED AS REPUBLICANS AND 9 OF WHICH WERE APPOINTED BY OR ELECTED AS DEMOCRATS) MEET FOR THREE LONG WEEKENDS OVER TWO YEARS WITH THE FINAL CAPSTONE SEMINAR TAKING PLACE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE SEMINARS COMBINE READING-BASED DISCUSSIONS LED BY DISTINGUISHED LAW PROFESSORS WITH WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP AND THE CHALLENGES OF JUDICIAL WORK. RODEL JUDICIAL FELLOWS READ CLASSICAL LEGAL TEXTS ON AMERICAN DEMOCRACY FROM VARYING PERSPECTIVES. THE DISCUSSIONS ARE CANDID AND CONFIDENTIAL, ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO FULLY EXAMINE THEIR OWN IDEAS AND EXPLORE THOSE OF THEIR COLLEAGUES.

FOUNDED IN 2023, THE RODEL FEDERAL EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP IS AN INTELLECTUAL AND LEADERSHIP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FELLOWSHIP FOR SENIOR-LEVEL CAREER CIVIL SERVANTS ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES. EACH YEAR, THE PROGRAM SELECTS 20 TO 24 EXCEPTIONAL MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE (SES), SENIOR FOREIGN SERVICE (SFS), GS-15'S, AND EQUIVALENT POSITIONS FROM ACROSS FEDERAL AGENCIES TO COME TOGETHER FOR A SERIES OF THREE MULTI-DAY SEMINARS. WORKING WITH EXPERT MODERATORS, THE FELLOWS' STUDY AND DISCUSS CHALLENGING TEXTS ON DEMOCRATIC RESILIENCE; NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON GOVERNANCE; AND GEOPOLITICS. THEY ALSO ENGAGE IN PRACTICAL, RELEVANT LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOCUSED ON PROMOTING INNOVATION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF LARGE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACIES.