activities · 6
what they do
direct service · 1
- Edwards Book Award Annual Book and Advocacy AwardsAwards the Edwards Book Award annually to authors whose works contribute to discussions on democracy and related societal issues, such as the 2025 award given to James Davison Hunter for "Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America’s Political Crisis."
capacity building · 5
- Rodel Federal Executive Fellowship Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsRuns a leadership and intellectual development program for 20 to 24 senior-level career civil servants from U.S. federal government agencies, facilitating discussions on leadership, innovation, democracy, emerging technologies, and the geopolitical landscape.
- Rodel Fellows All-Class Reunion Leadership Conferences & Networking EventsOrganizes an All-Class Reunion every three years for Rodel Fellows from all classes, featuring briefings, discussions, and networking opportunities.
- Rodel Fellowship Program for State and Local Elected Leaders Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsOperates the Rodel Fellowship, a leadership development program for 24 state and local elected leaders annually, consisting of three multi-day seminars over two years, focusing on breaking down partisan barriers and promoting bipartisan understanding. Over 400 elected leaders have completed the program.
- Rodel Judicial Fellows ProgramProvides a forum for federal judges and state supreme court justices to discuss democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law through seminars that combine reading-based discussions and workshops on leadership and judicial work challenges, using classical legal texts.
- State-Based Rodel Fellowship Programs (California, Rhode Island, Washington) Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsOperates state-level leadership development programs, including Rodel California, Rodel Rhode Island, and Rodel Washington, which convene emerging local and state leaders for year-long programs involving three seminars focused on democracy, identity, and polarization.
strategies · 5
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Bipartisan leadership development through immersive dialogue civic_leadership_developmentDevelops public leaders by deepening their commitment to democracy and collaborative problem-solving through sustained, bipartisan dialogue and engagement with foundational texts on ethical leadership and democratic principles.
- Fostering bipartisan relationships via structured fellowship model Rodel Fellowship modelBuilds bipartisan trust and reduces partisan polarization by convening carefully selected cohorts of elected officials in a structured fellowship program featuring multi-day seminars, scholar-moderated discussions, and engagement with classic texts on democracy and leadership.
- Seminar-based intellectual and professional development for public servants seminar-based_learningAdvances leadership and innovation in public service by providing senior civil servants with seminar-based learning experiences centered on challenging texts and expert-facilitated discussions on democracy, technology, and governance.
- Strengthening judicial independence and collegiality judicial_strengtheningSeeks to strengthen American democracy by addressing politicization in judicial selection and jurisprudence, promoting a more independent and collegial judiciary.
- Sustained alumni engagement for nonpartisan policy dialogue alumni_networkingMaintains long-term, nonpartisan networks of former fellows to continue dialogue on public policy and leadership, reinforcing cross-partisan relationships beyond the formal fellowship period.
named programs · 4
what they call their work
Rodel California
State-based fellowship program convening emerging local and state leaders in California for a year-long leadership development curriculum focused on polarization and democratic identity.
Rodel Federal Executive Fellowship
Leadership program for 20-24 senior federal civil servants and executives from agencies across the U.S. government, focusing on innovation, democracy, and leadership in large bureaucracies.
Rodel Fellowship
Two-year leadership development program for 24 state and local elected officials selected annually, with bipartisan cohorts engaging in seminars on democratic principles, ethical leadership, and foundational texts.
Rodel Judicial Fellowship
Forum for federal judges and state supreme court justices to discuss democracy, constitutional principles, and the rule of law through text-based seminars and leadership workshops.
relationships · 3
who they work with
- RODEL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Partner — Hosts judicial leadership program
- Rodel California Partner — State-based fellowship program launched to convene emerging local and state leaders in California.
- University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy Partner — Co-hosting the conferral of the 2025 Edwards Book Award.