Aspen Religion Fellows
An 18-month fellowship designed to develop leaders who understand the rich diversity of religion in American life and who can bring to bear the power of pluralism in the spaces where they live and work.
Who We Are
In a world that is becoming increasingly multi-religious and multi-ethnic, we need leaders who understand the power of religion and can bring the practices of religious pluralism into the spaces where they live and work. The Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program is launching the Aspen Religion Fellows, a new fellowship designed to support rising leaders who are committed to advancing equitable public pluralism.
The fellowship will bring together ten rising leaders, ages 25–40, for an 18-month cohort-based experience focused on learning, leadership development, and action. Fellows will engage deeply with religious pluralism, explore how it intersects with major issues of our time, and develop projects that bring pluralism practices into their own professional communities.
Announcement
Announcing the Inaugural Cohort of the Aspen Religion Fellows
The Aspen Institute Religion & Society Program announces an inaugural cohort of Aspen Religion Fellows, 10 leaders—clerics, journalists, nonprofit leaders, climate practitioners, and depolarization experts—who will develop projects that advance pluralism across society.
The Program
PARTICIPATION
Who Should Apply
The Aspen Religion Fellows program is designed for rising leaders (ages 25-40) who are excited to engage more deeply with religious pluralism and eager to advance positive change in their workplaces, communities, and fields. Ideal applicants are leaders with a strong capacity to work across lines of difference and who are energized by the opportunity to learn and implement alongside a diverse cohort.
Applicants must be:
- between the ages of 25 and 40
- currently based in the United States
- interested in deepening their understanding of religious pluralism and applying that learning in their work and community
Full-time students who meet the age requirement are also eligible to apply.
COMMITMENT
What Fellows Will Do
Over the 18-month, cohort-based experience, the fellowship will equip individuals with new competencies and skills essential for engaging across differences, including a deep commitment to religious freedom and belief, an expansive understanding of the way religion intersects with major issues of our time, and a focus on what it means to be an effective, ethical leader.
Fellows will commit to:
- participating in three in-person convenings, including a trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival in June 2027
- proposing and implementing a project to advance themes of religious pluralism within their work
- attending 12 virtual gatherings, including webinars, check-ins, a virtual kickoff, and a virtual closing
Travel and program costs are covered by the fellowship, and all in-person and virtual convenings are required.
SUPPORT
Fellowship Support
Each fellow will receive $15,000 to create and implement a project, along with access to networking and learning opportunities, guidance from advisors and program staff, and the opportunity to connect with leaders across the religious pluralism field. Fellows will receive a travel stipend to offset participation costs for convenings.
Advisors
Senior Executive Vice President for Public Theology and Civic Engagement at Union Theological Seminary
Sociologist and the Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences at Rice University
Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Public Law at Texas Tech University
Former U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom and Director Emeritus at the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism
Key Focus Areas
The fellowship will support leaders working in, or eager to advance pluralism within, five focus areas.
