activities · 14
what they do
research · 2
- Edwards Book Award Annual Book and Advocacy AwardsAwards an annual honorarium of $10,000 to a book that contributes to the understanding and practice of democracy and American politics, with the most recent award given to James Davison Hunter for his book on the cultural roots of America’s political crisis.
- Edwards Book Award Annual Book and Advocacy AwardsAnnually awards the Edwards Book Award, including a $10,000 honorarium, to a book published in the prior year that contributes to the understanding and practice of democracy and American politics.
capacity building · 12
- All-Class Reunion Leadership Conferences & Networking EventsHosts an All-Class Reunion every three years for Rodel Fellows from all classes, providing briefings, discussions, and networking opportunities.
- Judicial Fellows ProgramConvenes cohorts of 15 to 20 federal judges and state supreme court justices for seminars on major judicial issues, providing intellectual and leadership development through discussions of jurisprudential heritage and classical legal texts.
- Judicial Fellows ProgramConvenes cohorts of 15 to 20 federal judges and state supreme court justices for seminars on major judicial issues, providing new perspectives on the judiciary's role in democracy and connections with diverse jurists.
- Judicial Leadership SeminarsConvenes cohorts of 15 to 20 federal judges and state supreme court justices for seminars on major judicial issues, providing new perspectives on the judiciary's role in democracy.
- Rodel California Fellowship Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsOperates a year-long leadership development fellowship for emerging local and state leaders in California, involving three seminars that engage with texts on democracy, identity, and polarization. The program has engaged 21 participants.
- Rodel California Fellowship Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsOperates a year-long leadership development fellowship for emerging local and state leaders in California, involving three seminars that engage with texts on democracy, identity, and polarization.
- Rodel California Fellowship Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsLaunched a state-based fellowship program for emerging local and state leaders, which includes a year-long leadership development program with three seminars focusing on democracy, identity, and polarization.
- Rodel Federal Executive Fellowship Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsProvides intellectual and leadership development for 20 to 24 senior-level career civil servants from federal executive branch agencies.
- Rodel Fellowship Program Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsSelects 24 state and local leaders annually, equally divided between political parties, for a two-year leadership development fellowship involving three multi-day seminars. This program has an alumni network of over 420 current and former elected officials.
- Rodel Fellowship Program Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsOperates a leadership development program for 24 state and local elected leaders annually, divided equally between political parties, through a series of three multi-day seminars over two years.
- State-Level Leadership Programs Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsImplements state-level leadership programs in Rhode Island and Washington state, convening elected officials for multi-day seminars focused on leadership and foundational texts.
- State-Level Leadership Programs Leadership Development Fellowship for Elected OfficialsImplements state-level leadership development programs in Rhode Island and Washington state, convening elected officials for multi-day seminars focused on leadership and foundational texts.
strategies · 15
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.
- Alumni Network for Ongoing Nonpartisan Discussion alumni_networkThe organization fosters ongoing engagement and nonpartisan discussion among alumni on public policy and leadership issues after the fellowship seminars, extending the impact of the initial programs.
- Alumni Network for Sustained Nonpartisan Engagement alumni_networkThe organization fosters ongoing engagement and nonpartisan discussion among program alumni on public policy and leadership issues, extending the impact of the initial fellowship seminars.
- Civic Education through Classic and Foundational Texts civic_education_through_classic_textsThe organization uses seminars centered on classic and foundational texts about democratic principles, ethical leadership, law, politics, and philosophy to foster nonpartisan dialogue and deep discussion among public leaders. This curriculum, often incorporating contemporary issues, aims to teach ethical values and democratic principles.
- Civic education through seminar-based discussion of classic texts civic_education_through_classic_textsThe organization utilizes seminars centered on classic and foundational texts about democratic principles, ethical leadership, law, politics, and philosophy to foster deep, nonpartisan dialogue and shared perspectives among public leaders, sometimes incorporating contemporary issues.
- Cohort-Based Learning for Diverse Perspectives cohort-based learningThe organization creates highly diverse cohorts of Fellows, including ideological diversity (e.g., half left-of-center and half right-of-center elected officials or judges), to mirror political and legal complexity. This approach fosters learning from diverse viewpoints and aims to increase mutual understanding and build trust to overcome partisan barriers.
- Cohort-based learning with ideological diversity cohort-based learningThe organization creates highly diverse cohorts of Fellows, intentionally balancing ideological perspectives (e.g., left-of-center and right-of-center), to mirror political and legal complexity and facilitate learning from a wide range of viewpoints.
- Cross-Partisan Convening and Relationship Building for Civil Discourse cross_partisan_conveningThe organization convenes diverse leaders from across the political, legal, and policy spectrums, often in ideologically balanced cohorts, to foster civil discussion, deliberation, negotiation, and compromise. This process aims to build strong personal relationships, identify common ground, reduce partisan divisions, and strengthen shared democratic values for practical problem-solving.
- Cultivating Public Leaders through Nonpartisan Leadership Development nonpartisan_leadership_developmentThe organization operates as a nonpartisan center focused on leadership development and intellectual growth to cultivate effective public leaders. This involves providing multiple perspectives, tools, and techniques for ethical and principled leadership, adaptive leadership, self-awareness, and peer accountability.
- Cultivating nonpartisan public leadership through intellectual and ethical development nonpartisan_leadership_developmentThe organization develops effective public leaders by fostering intellectual growth and ethical leadership, emphasizing nonpartisan approaches to strengthen democratic values and address societal challenges.
- Fostering Cross-Partisan Dialogue and Relationship Building cross_partisan_conveningThe organization convenes diverse leaders across the political, legal, and policy spectrums to foster civil discussion, deliberation, negotiation, and compromise. This approach aims to build strong personal relationships, identify common ground, reduce partisan divisions, and promote mutual understanding for practical problem-solving and strengthened shared democratic values.
- Fostering cross-partisan dialogue and relationship building cross_partisan_conveningThe organization convenes diverse leaders from across the political spectrum to engage in civil discussion, deliberation, and negotiation, aiming to build relationships, find common ground, and reduce partisan divisions for practical problem-solving and mutual understanding.
- Nonpartisan Leadership Development through Classic Texts and Discussion nonpartisan_leadership_developmentThe organization develops effective public leaders by engaging them in nonpartisan discussions centered on classic texts about democratic principles, ethical leadership, and foundational concepts in law, politics, and philosophy. This approach fosters intellectual growth, deepens commitment to democracy, and provides tools for ethical and principled leadership.
- Strengthening the Judiciary and Rule of Law strengthening_judiciaryThe organization specifically targets the judiciary to reverse trends of politicization and acrimonious rhetoric. By fostering respect for the rule of law and encouraging judges to make sound legal decisions independent of politics, it aims to build public confidence in the legitimacy of the judicial branch.
- Strengthening the Judiciary and Rule of Law strengthening_judiciaryThe organization aims to strengthen American democracy by focusing on the judiciary, specifically by reversing trends of politicization, jurisprudential disagreements, and acrimonious rhetoric. This involves fostering respect for the rule of law to build public confidence in the legitimacy of the judicial branch and encouraging judges to make sound legal decisions independent of politics.
- Strengthening the judiciary through respect for the rule of lawThe organization aims to strengthen American democracy by addressing the politicization of the judiciary, fostering respect for the rule of law, and encouraging judges to make sound legal decisions independent of politics to build public confidence.
named programs · 2
what they call their work
Rodel Federal Executive Fellowship
A professional development program for senior-level civil servants in the federal government, focusing on leadership and innovation.
Rodel Fellowship
A leadership development program for state and local elected officials, featuring seminars on ethical values and democratic principles.
relationships · 36
who they work with
- Aspen Institute Partner — Co-developed and hosted the Rodel Fellowship before the program was spun off into the independent Rodel Institute.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Partner — Avis Denease Dickey, Senior Advisor to the Chief Human Capital Resources Officer and Deputy Ethics Counselor, is a fellow.
- Deep South Today Partner — Warwick Sabin, a committee member for the Edwards Book Award, is President & CEO of Deep South Today.
- Duke University Partner — Jennifer Siegel, a committee member for the Edwards Book Award, is a professor at Duke University.
- Federal Aviation Administration Partner — Kimberly Noonan, NextGen Stakeholder Collaboration Division Director, is a fellow.
- Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, University of Virginia Partner — Institutional partner that helps develop intellectual and leadership resources for fellows.
- Henry Luce Foundation Funder — Listed as a foundation supporter.
- Hewlett Foundation Funder — Listed as a foundation supporter.
- Intelligence Community Partner — Suzanne Fry, Senior Intelligence Service, is a fellow.
- Kansas Leadership Center Partner — Institutional partner that helps develop intellectual and leadership resources for fellows.
- Murdock Trust Funder — Listed as a foundation supporter.
- National Science Foundation Partner — Rhonda J. Davis, Head, Office of Equity and Civil Rights, is a fellow.
- National Security Council Partner — Cara Abercrombie, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Defense Policy and Arms Control, is a fellow.
- Rockefeller Brothers Fund Funder — Listed as a foundation supporter.
- Rodel Foundation Funder — Primary funder of the Rodel Institute.
- Rodel Foundation Government — Provided steady support for the Rodel Fellowship and collaborated on the transition to the independent Rodel Institute.
- Rodel Foundation Partner — Co-founded by Bill, Don, and Susan Budinger, who are also on the Rodel Institute's Board of Directors.
- U.S. Agency for International Development Partner — Najiyah Alwazir, Senior Governance Advisor, Middle East Bureau, is a fellow.
- U.S. Coast Guard Partner — Jeff R. Bray, Deputy, Office of Maritime and International Law, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Partner — Vivian Chen, Chief Learning Officer, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of Defense Partner — Jason D. Strickland, Maritime Platform Specialist, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering for Emerging Technology, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Partner — Brian Mazanec, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Partner — Robert Borka, Deputy Executive Director, Program Accountability and Risk Management, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of Justice Partner — Mike Buchwald, Career Attorney, Office of Law and Policy, National Security Division, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of Labor Partner — Kerry K. Neal, Associate Commissioner for Administration, Bureau of Labor Statistics, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of State Partner — Jennifer Bachus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of the Army Partner — Mike Carroll, Chief Acquisition and Contracting Officer, Human Resources Command, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of the Navy Partner — Justin Fanelli, Technical Director, Digital Enterprise Services, is a fellow.
- U.S. Department of the Treasury Partner — Nayla Kawerk, Acting Deputy Assistant General Counsel for International Affairs, Office of the Assistant General Counsel, is a fellow.
- U.S. Space Force Partner — Jessica Gallus, Holistic Health Integrator, is a fellow.
+ 6 more