Leadership Institute
Representative Lois DeBerry Leadership Institute
NOBEL Women is the only network of Black women elected state legislators in the country, with NOBEL Women members collectively representing upwards of 20 million Americans. As a valuable voice for Black communities, NOBEL Women communicates the critical needs of Black constituencies to the media, legislatures, and government to affect change. Established in 2002, the NOBEL Women Leadership Institute (NOBEL Women Leadership Institute or the Institute) is a training program designed to help participants develop the expertise they need to become public leaders.
The NOBEL Women Leadership Institute seeks to provide programs that support the advancement of Black women in public office, to offer a network and support for women engaged in public policy, and to serve as an educational resource to Black women looking to gain the necessary training to run for elected office. A highly intense year long program, “The Institute” is designed to help participants develop the expertise to become the leaders, strategists, and lead executives within their respective industries.
The first NOBEL Women Leadership Institute was held in 2002. Today, more than 200 graduates are putting the political and executive leadership skills they developed to work. Through a competitive process, NOBEL Women accepts and critiques hundreds of applications. No less than 25 Black women are selected to participate in this unique year long leadership experience at a time.
Fellows will explore each component of successful campaign execution and as well as receive training on how to successfully attain board appointments and other executive leadership roles. Fellows will conduct successful candidate and issue campaigns or lead public and private sector policy work.
This non-partisan educational program is offered yearly and consists of quarterly in person training sessions.
Recognizing the evolution of the role of the Black woman in today’s society, NOBEL Women in partnership with the Center for American Women in Politics at the Rutgers University Eagleton Institute of Politics is committed to identifying, educating, cultivating, and elevating the next generation of Black women leaders in state government through the “NOBEL Women Lois M. DeBerry Leadership Training and Educational Development Institute” (The Institute).
Since its 2002 inception, The Institute has achieved national prominence as one of the signature programs of the organization. It is heralded as a premiere educational forum that has provided leadership, public policy, and campaign training that has prepared over 200 Black women to run for public office, seek board appointments, and advance in careers in the public, corporate, and community sector. NOBEL Women believes that it is just as important that we create a culture of succession to ensure that there are no gaps or lapses in smart, effective, efficient leadership.
Applications for the 2025 program are closed. To review program details, in preparation for interest in 2026, please read more here.
