Dear Supporters,
At a recent CEO Civil Rights Fellowship session, our record-breaking 2026 cohort participated in an exceptional seminar titled “Public Interest & Policy: How Nonprofits Shape the National Legal Landscape” featuring Darpana Sheth (General Counsel, Center for Individual Rights) and Gregg Nunziata (Executive Director, Society for the Rule of Law). Darpana and Gregg provided our fellows with an inside look at how nonprofit organizations drive constitutional litigation, influence public policy, and defend the rule of law outside government institutions. Both engaged in a candid, interactive Q&A—giving fellows rare access to mentorship from leaders actively shaping the national legal landscape.
Like the hopeless romantics we are, @darpana and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary by talking law and liberty at the Center for Equal Rights Civil Rights Fellowship Program. Thanks to @chavezlinda, @CEOUSA and a great group of students for having us! pic.twitter.com/sI6TUATV20
— Gregg Nunziata (@greggnunziata) August 14, 2026
Some of the early highlights of the fellowship have included:
- Kicking off the 5th Annual Fellowship in D.C.
- Grounding Fellows in the Constitution with Professors Gail Heriot and Maimon Schwarzschild.
- Visiting the National Archives to view America’s founding charters.
- Masterclass on judicial decision-making with Judge Douglas Ginsburg.
- Election law and redistricting session with BakerHostetler Partner Kate McKnight.
After completing the fellowship, CEO alumni are often placed in major roles within our movement, demonstrating the immediate and tangible impact of CEO’s talent development program. CEO alumni are currently leading across a range of critical positions:
- Executive and Legislative Branches: Serving in key roles at the Department of Justice, USDA, Department of State, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Senate Judiciary Committee.
- Judiciary: Clerking for judges in both state and federal courts.
- Military & Public Safety: Serving as Judge Advocate Generals and prosecutors.
- Advocacy: Shaping policy by drafting amicus briefs, authoring influential op-eds, and founding public-interest litigation non-profits to advance equal opportunity.
Indeed, CEO’s expanding alumni network has become a trusted resource for identifying exceptional candidates for key roles within the federal government and beyond.
The CEO Fellowship is a long-term investment in building a principled legal network committed to colorblind equality under the law. None of this is possible without the generosity of our supporters.
Best of all, this instruction won’t end in D.C. We are gearing up to launch an expansion of our fellowship program which will keep our fellows engaged with leading legal minds year-round. More on this very soon…
Thank you for making this record-breaking year possible!
Rudy Gersten
Executive Director
P.S. In case you missed it, see how CEO is driving impact nationwide—from SCOTUS briefs to expanding our legal network—in our summer program update.
