Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute

Since 1943, Roosevelt House has been an integral part of Hunter College. Re-opened in 2010 as the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, it stands as a living tribute to the enduring legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt—leaders who championed human rights, democratic values, and bold public policy. Today, Roosevelt House carries that legacy forward through a three-fold mission: to educate students in public policy and human rights, to support faculty research, and to foster community dialogue through programming that enriches both scholarly and public audiences.

Through high-profile lectures, seminars, and conferences, the Institute brings together leading voices in government, academia, journalism, and advocacy. More importantly, it provides transformative opportunities for students: the chance to analyze pressing public policy challenges, engage meaningfully in civic life, and interact directly with policy experts and practitioners.

Your contribution to Roosevelt House will directly support student-focused programming in human rights and public policy and help fund student opportunities hosted by our undergraduate programs. By supporting Roosevelt House, you invest in the next generation of leaders, advocates, and informed citizens. You help ensure that students not only study democracy and human rights—but actively participate in shaping them.