Strengthening Democracy and
Improving Public Leadership

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Leadership

We help America’s most promising leaders reach their full potential as public servants.

Integrity

We encourage high ethical standards and promote personal and professional integrity.

Bipartisanship

We provide an opportunity for fellows to build relationships and find common ground. 

A center for leadership and intellectual development

The Rodel Institute is a nonpartisan center for leadership and intellectual growth. Rodel helps America’s most promising leaders reach their full potential as public servants, deepen their commitment to democracy and the rule of law, and work together to address some of our nation’s most important domestic and international challenges.

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What Our People Say About Us

In an increasingly polarized nation, Rodel demonstrates the power of engaging leaders with diverse beliefs and backgrounds. The lessons Rodel teaches are essential for addressing the demands of public leadership today.
Francis X. SuarezMayor of Miami, Florida
Rodel Fellow Class of 2019
Francis X. Suarez
Rodel redefines what bipartisan dialogue can accomplish. It builds bridges across party lines empowering Rodel Fellows to reach higher and better serve our nation together.
Deborah RossU.S. Congresswoman, North Carolina
Rodel Fellow Class of 2006
Deborah Ross
I left Rodel feeling like I had a whole new toolbox of resources and a whole posse of thoughtful judges around the nation to reach out to for advice. This fellowship will make me a better, more thoughtful judge than I am now.
Ada BrownJudge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Ada Brown
With threats against American democracy on the rise, Rodel’s steadfast commitment to finding common ground and fostering mutual understanding among a diverse, bipartisan set of leaders is more important than ever. Rodel champions deliberation and collaboration to cultivate strong public leaders for our nation.
Alex PadillaU.S. Senator, California
Rodel Fellow Class of 2019
Alex Padilla
I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to engage in honest, intellectual, and highly collaborative conversations on the most critical issues facing our federal government today. The program's emphasis on fostering a community of forward-thinking leaders has been truly inspiring.
Kerry K. NealAssociate Commissioner for Administration, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Kerry K. Neal
The Rodel Fellowship is a remarkable resource for our democracy and our nation. It helps bring together promising, accomplished young elected officials and builds relationships rooted in the foundational texts and critical history of our country in time spent together in conversation.
Chris CoonsU.S. Senator, Delaware
Rodel Fellow Class of 2008
Chris Coons
The relationships we, and so many others, have built through Rodel are going to be very important into the future and will play a part in continuing this American experiment for the next decades and centuries ahead.
Bill GatesFormer Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman, Arizona
Rodel fellow class of 2022
Bill Gates

Latest News

Rodel’s Bipartisan Approach

The Rodel Institute is a nonpartisan center for leadership development and intellectual growth. Our past fellows include: two members of President Trump’s cabinet and three from President Biden’s cabinet, U.S. Senators from both parties, members of Congress from both parties, and Governors from both parties. Every seminar we hold has between 16 and 28 participants […]

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Class of 2025 Rodel Fellows Announced

The Rodel Institute is delighted to announce the selection of the 2025 Class of Rodel Fellows. The Rodel Fellowship is the nation’s premier leadership development program for elected leaders. Each year, the program selects 24 outstanding state and local leaders, divided between the political parties, to come together for a series of three multi-day seminars […]

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King: A Life by Jonathan Eig Wins 2024 Edwards Book Award

The Rodel Institute is pleased to announce that Jonathan Eig’s biography King: A Life has won the 2024 Edwards Book Award. The prize will be conferred on September 26 at the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, which is co-hosting this year’s award ceremony with the Rodel Institute. The Edwards Book Award is […]

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The Rodel Fellowship is the nation’s premier leadership development program for elected officials. The program is designed to break down partisan barriers and promote bipartisan understanding.
Rodel Fellowship
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The Rodel Judicial Fellowship is a unique forum for leading federal judges and state supreme court justices to discuss democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law.
Rodel Judicial Fellowship
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The Rodel Federal Executive Fellowship is a ground-breaking leadership and intellectual development program for senior leaders in the United States government.
Rodel Federal Executive Fellowship
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Rodel America is an innovative leadership workshop that gathers leaders from select states and regions across the United States. The program breaks down partisan barriers and increases mutual understanding.
Rodel America
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