Pelosi and UC Berkeley plan democracy institute with $35 million pledged
The Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy is set to open in January and will include teaching, research and an exhibit on her career.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
UC Berkeley said it will launch a new academic institute with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to study and strengthen representative democracy. The project gives Pelosi a formal role in civic education as she prepares to leave Congress after nearly four decades representing San Francisco, according to the Associated Press.
The Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy is scheduled to open in January, the university said. Pelosi, a California Democrat who is not seeking reelection, will take part in its academic work, including co-teaching a course on Congress.
Pelosi said she was honored to work with Berkeley scholars and students “so we can equip the next generation with the tools they need to strengthen our democratic institutions and forge a future that serves the public good.”
Institute will focus on democracy and public challenges
UC Berkeley said the institute has received more than $35 million in philanthropic commitments. The university said the institute will be based in its political science department and organized around four areas of work.
- Strengthening democratic institutions in the United States.
- Addressing challenges facing society, the economy and the planet.
- Advancing human and civil rights.
- Supporting political leadership that reflects a broad range of views and backgrounds.
The university said researchers may examine issues including climate change, wealth inequality and election changes that could reduce voter polarization. UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons said the institute fits the university’s efforts to support civil discussion and prepare students for public leadership.
“We intend to do more than simply study democracy,” Lyons said. “We are building this institute to strengthen it.”
Pelosi’s congressional career will be part of the project
The institute will also include an exhibit about Pelosi’s career, according to the university. The Associated Press reported that her record includes two periods as House speaker and a long-running role in Democratic politics, especially in California.
Pelosi became the first woman to serve as speaker while Republican George W. Bush was president, according to AP. She continued in the role during the first two years of Democrat Barack Obama’s presidency, when she helped pass the Affordable Care Act.
AP reported that Pelosi’s second speakership put her in direct conflict with Republican President Donald Trump. During that period, the House impeached Trump twice; the Senate acquitted him both times.
One of Pelosi’s most widely remembered confrontations with Trump came after his 2020 State of the Union address, AP reported, when she tore up her copy of the speech. Pelosi told reporters at the time it was “a manifesto of mistruths,” while Republicans sharply criticized the gesture.
AP reported that Trump welcomed news of Pelosi’s planned retirement last year. Pelosi, now 86, stepped aside from House Democratic leadership in 2023 but has remained in Congress as speaker emerita, taking part in legislation and advising newer Democratic leaders, according to AP.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.