Key facts
- Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is launching a nonpartisan institute at UC Berkeley.
- The institute, named the Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy, will focus on strengthening democratic institutions, promoting civil rights, and fostering diverse political leadership.
- Pelosi will co-teach a course on Congress with Professor Eric Schickler.
- The institute has secured over $35 million in philanthropic commitments.
- An exhibit chronicling Pelosi's career will be housed at the institute.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is partnering with the University of California, Berkeley, to establish a new nonpartisan academic institute aimed at strengthening democracy and protecting civil rights. The Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy is set to launch in January.
Pelosi, who represented San Francisco for nearly 40 years and is not seeking reelection, will also co-teach a course on Congress with Professor Eric Schickler. The institute's mission includes strengthening democratic institutions, addressing societal, economic, and environmental challenges, promoting human and civil rights, and ensuring political leadership that reflects diverse perspectives.
UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons stated that the institute's goal is to actively strengthen democracy, not just study it. The initiative has already garnered over $35 million in philanthropic commitments. Additionally, the institute will feature an exhibit detailing Pelosi's career, including her two terms as House speaker.