Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to launch and teach at a new nonpartisan democracy institute at the University of California, Berkeley after retiring from Congress, according to multiple outlets. The institute, established in her honor, is scheduled to begin in January. Pelosi will co-teach a course focused on Congress as part of the program’s academic activities. In addition to teaching, the institute hosts visiting fellows drawn from across the political spectrum, reflecting its stated nonpartisan mission.
The reports also converge on the level of funding behind the effort. The Hill and Fortune say philanthropic fundraising has supported the project with about $35 million, described as multimillion-dollar backing. The Los Angeles Times adds that Pelosi is involved in building the institute during her post-congressional phase and highlights her participation in shaping its programming through course instruction and engagement with visiting fellows. Taken together, the coverage portrays the Berkeley institute as a new platform for studying democratic governance and Congress with nonpartisan participation, supported by significant private funding.
