Rodel America

Innovative leadership workshops for state and local leaders
across the United States.

Rodel America

Rodel America applies the proven Rodel Fellowship model at the state and regional level. The program selects a cohort of 18 to 24 elected officials from the same region, balanced between the parties and reflecting the area’s ideological dynamics. The cohort gathers for a rigorous series of three multi-day seminars held over a one-year period. Seminar discussions are designed to increase mutual understanding, create an atmosphere conducive to problem-solving, foster dynamic leadership, and identify areas of shared concern and common values. Our goal is to break down partisan barriers among elected officials, building relationships and trust that will change the way state leaders interact and solve problems. Through thought-provoking readings, open and honest conversations, and time spent in fellowship, participants revisit the passions that drove them to elected office while fostering connections that they carry back to their everyday work. Rodel has run two state-level programs, one in Rhode Island and one Washington state, and is expanding the program to other regions around the United States.

For more information, please contact Samantha Thompson-Foster.

OUR Programs

Rodel Rhode Island

Rodel Washington

Rodel gathered 22 state and local-level elected officials from across the state. The cohort gathered three times between April 2023 and December 2023. Working with leading scholars as moderators, the Fellows read and discussed classic texts dealing with ethical values, democratic principles, and wise and effective leadership.

Rodel Washington selected a cohort of 18 elected officials. The group gathered for three multi-day seminars between December 2022 and December 2023 to consider their role as leaders and read and discuss texts such as the Declaration of Independence, George Washington’s Farewell Address, John Winthrop’s City upon a Hill, and Federalist No. 10.

Our Fellows

Rhode Island 2023
Washington 2022

What Our People Say About Us

The most impactful aspect of this experience was to recognize our place in and responsibility to American democracy. We have a tendency to become complacent and follow a 'business as usual' model in our daily work. Rodel is a reminder of the temporary opportunity I have to lead well. I left Rodel eager to model prudence and be more visible in the community as a fair, engaged leader.
Natalie WimberleyPeninsula School Board Member, Washington
Rodel Washington Fellow Class of 2022
Natalie Wimberley
My interactions with other Washington elected officials absolutely influenced my approach to policy—for example, a long conversation with several Mayors at the December 2022 Rodel meeting strongly influenced my views during the 2023 legislative session on Washington State drug policy.
Drew HansenState Senator, Washington
Rodel Washington Fellow Class of 2022
Drew Hansen
Previous
Next

Latest News

Edwards Book Award

2024 Edwards Book Award Longlist Announced

The Rodel Institute is delighted to announce the longlist finalists for its 2024 Edwards Book Award. The Edwards Book Award is an annual prize recognizing books that make an outstanding contribution to the understanding and practice of democracy and American politics. The prize carries an honorarium of $10,000. The winning book is chosen by a committee that includes past Rodel Fellows, external academic advisors, and Rodel Institute staff. This year’s award committee is comprised of Rodel Felllows Larry Obhof (former OH Senate President), Mike Signer (former Charlottesville, VA Mayor), Miguel Solis (former Dallas School Board Member), and Jamie Woodson (former TN State…

Read more ➜
Rodel Fellowship

Rodel Fellowship 2023 Reunion

More than 100 Rodel Fellows, representing 39 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, gathered in Washington, D.C. in October 2023 for a weekend of workshops, group discussions, plenary sessions, and informal networking. The weekend kicked off with the presentation of Rodel’s inaugural Edwards Book Award to Dr. Francis Fukuyama for his 2022 book Liberalism and Its Discontents published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. Lizzy McCourt Noonan, the executive director of Rodel’s Edwards Book Award, moderated a conversation with Dr. Fukuyama about liberal democracy, classical liberalism, and growing authoritarianism around the globe. The next morning began with breakout discussions on…

Read more ➜
Announcements | Edwards Book Award

Liberalism and Its Discontents by Francis Fukuyama Wins Inaugural Edwards Book Award

The Rodel Institute is pleased to announce that Francis Fukuyama’s book Liberalism and Its Discontents has won the inaugural Edwards Book Award. The prize was conferred on October 13, 2023 at the Rodel Institute’s Fellowship Reunion in Washington, D.C., where Dr. Fukuyama gave the keynote address to 140 Rodel Fellows and guests. The Edwards Book Award is given annually to a book that contributes to the understanding and practice of democracy and American politics. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2022, Liberalism and Its Discontents offers a compelling defense of classical liberalism and liberal democracy in the face of growing authoritarianism around the globe. Over the past…

Read more ➜