Dear CEO Supporters,
The Center for Equal Opportunity’s talent pipeline program is increasingly being recognized as a major player within the conservative legal and policy movement.
In an exclusive report this week published by Bloomberg Law titled “Civil Rights Recast Under Trump’s Vision of Justice Department,” CEO was cited as a talent source for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. Featured alongside legacy, multi-million-dollar conservative powerhouses, CEO stands out for punching far above its weight—demonstrating that even with a lean budget, our strategic impact and talent development rival the largest organizations in Washington.
This national coverage is further proof that the CEO Civil Rights Fellowship is operating exactly as designed: a premier, highly effective talent pipeline equipping the next generation of legal minds and young leaders to advance colorblind equal opportunity.
How the CEO Fellowship Works
CEO selects highly talented fellows from some of the top law schools in the country and flies them to Washington, D.C. for intensive, expert training. We connect our fellows with many of the leading minds in civil rights law, policy, and media, provide post-fellowship mentorship, and actively help place them in key positions across the movement. Our fellowship is built on three core pillars:
- Intellectual Rigor: A framework to evaluate contemporary legal issues through principled analysis.
- Direct Mentorship: Firsthand access to prominent law and policy experts, litigators, and government officials
- Professional Preparation: The tools to advocate effectively as they build their legal careers.
CEO is ensuring that tomorrow’s lawyers, judges, and policy experts remain committed to the principle that every individual should be judged by the content of their character, not their race.
A Proven Track Record of Leadership
As we highlighted when a CEO Alum was recently named Deputy Assistant Secretary at USDA, CEO fellows are increasingly filling critical positions across the movement:
- 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.
CEO Fellowship now Year-Round
Last but certainly not least, CEO’s talent development program is expanding! We just announced the launch of our year-round CEO Fellowship Webinar Series, with former Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia scheduled as our inaugural speaker. CEO remains committed to connecting our fellows with the greatest minds in the movement.
Secretary Scalia will guide our fellows through the current landscape of civil rights and employment law—examining key developments in Title VII doctrine, enforcement trends, and emerging litigation. He will also offer practical guidance on building a legal career at a major firm, balancing billable practice with pro bono civil rights work, and navigating career paths between public service and private practice.
As we continue identifying, mentoring, and placing top-tier talent where they can make the greatest impact, we know we could not do this without our supporters. Thank you for your continued investment in our mission. Your support makes this talent pipeline possible.
Sincerely,
Rudy Gersten
Executive Director
