Bio


Rob Reich is professor of political science and, by courtesy, professor of philosophy and at the Graduate School of Education. He is a co-director of the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (publisher of the Stanford Social Innovation Review), and associate director of the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. He was faculty director at the Center for Ethics in Society for eight years, and he continues to lead its ethics and technology initiatives.

His scholarship in political theory engages with the work of social scientists and engineers. His newest work is on ethics and AI. His most recent books are System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot (with Mehran Sahami and Jeremy M. Weinstein, HarperCollins 2021) and Digital Technology and Democratic Theory (edited with Lucy Bernholz and Hélène Landemore, University of Chicago Press 2021). He has also written widely about philanthropy, including Just Giving: Why Philanthropy is Failing Democracy and How It Can Do Better (Princeton University Press, 2018) and Philanthropy in Democratic Societies: History, Institutions, Values (edited with Chiara Cordelli and Lucy Bernholz, University of Chicago Press, 2016). His early work is focused on democracy and education, including Bridging Liberalism and Multiculturalism in American Education (University of Chicago Press, 2002) and Education, Justice, and Democracy (edited with Danielle Allen, University of Chicago Press, 2013). He has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Wired, The Guardian, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

Rob is the recipient of multiple teaching awards, including the Walter J. Gores award, Stanford’s highest honor for teaching. He was a sixth grade teacher at Rusk Elementary School in Houston, Texas before attending graduate school. He is a board member of the magazine Boston Review, of Giving Tuesday, and at the Spencer Foundation.

Academic Appointments


Administrative Appointments


  • Professor of Political Science, Stanford University (2014 - Present)
  • Professor (by courtesy), Dept. of Philosophy, Stanford University (2014 - Present)
  • Professor (by courtesy), Graduate School of Education, Stanford University (2014 - Present)
  • Associate Director, Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (2019 - Present)
  • Co-Director, Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (2008 - Present)
  • Director, Center for Ethics in Society (2015 - 2023)
  • Faculty Affiliate, Center for Research on Foundation Models (2021 - Present)
  • The Stanford Alumni University Fellow in Undergraduate Education, Stanford University (2010 - 2020)
  • Joint Appointment, Program Ethics in Society, Stanford University (2007 - Present)
  • Laurance S. Rockefeller Visiting Fellow, Center for Human Values, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (2004 - 2005)
  • Visiting Professor, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ (2009 - 2010)
  • Laurence S. Rockefeller Visiting Fellow, Center for Human Values, Princeton University (2004 - 2005)
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Center for Human Values, Princeton University (2004 - 2005)
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Foundation and National Academy of Education (2002 - 2002)
  • Fellowship, Stanford Humanities Center Faculty (2001 - 2002)

Honors & Awards


  • Phi Beta Kappa Undergraduate Teaching Prize, Phi Beta Kappa Society (2008)
  • The Walter J. Gores Award, Stanford University (2001)
  • Associated Students of Stanford University Distinguished Teaching Award, Stanford University (1999-2000)
  • Miriam Aaron Roland Volunteer Service Prize, Stanford University (2010)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Member, Board of Trustees, GiveWell.org (2013 - 2019)
  • Affiliate, Haas Center for Public Service
  • Affiliate, Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity
  • Affiliate, Institute for Research on Education Policy and Practice
  • Reviewer, University of Chicago Press
  • Reviewer, Harvard University Press
  • Reviewer, Stanford University Press
  • Reviewer, Yale University Press
  • Reviewer, Palgrave MacMillan
  • Reviewer, Longman Publishers
  • Reviewer, Lexington Books
  • Reviewer, Routledge
  • Reviewer, Broadview Press
  • Reviewer, Ethics
  • Reviewer, Political Theory
  • Reviewer, Ethics and Economics
  • Reviewer, Canadian Journal of Philosophy
  • Reviewer, PS: Political Science & Politics
  • Reviewer, Perspectives in Politics
  • Reviewer, Politics, Philosophy & Economics
  • Reviewer, Social Theory and Practice
  • Reviewer, Educational Policy
  • Reviewer, Philosophical Review
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Civic Education and Engagement, American Political Science Association (2002 - 2005)
  • Member, Breadth Governance Board (2012 - Present)
  • Member, Committee, Study of Undergraduate Education at Stanford (2009 - 2012)
  • Member, Stanford University Strategic Advisory Group (2007 - Present)
  • Member, Education Society Annual Program Committee (2005 - 2006)
  • Member, Committee, Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid (C-UAFA) (2009 - 2011)
  • Member, Faculty Service Learning Committee, Haas Center for Public Service (2010 - 2013)
  • Member, Faculty Steering Committee, McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society (2010 - 2013)
  • Member, Faculty Steering Committee, Structured Liberal Education (SLE) (2010 - 2013)
  • Director of Undergraduate Studies, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2006 - 2008)
  • Member, Curriculum Committee, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2005 - 2008)
  • Member, Multiple Search Committees, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University
  • Member, Graduate Admissions Committee, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2000 - 2001)
  • Member, Graduate Admissions Committee, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2001 - 2002)
  • Chair, Graduate Admissions Committee, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2012 - 2013)
  • Member, Stanford University Faculty Senate (2012 - 2014)
  • Member, Review Committee, Miriam Roland Prize, Haas Center (2013 - 2013)
  • Member, Advisory Board, Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS) (2011 - Present)
  • Grant//Fellowship Reviewer, Spencer Foundation (2004 - 2004)
  • Grant//Fellowship Reviewer, Spencer Foundation (2005 - 2005)
  • Grant//Fellowship Reviewer, Stanford Humanities Center (2002 - 2006)
  • Founder and Co-Director, Stanford Summer Philosophy Discovery Institute (1999 - 2004)
  • Co-Founder and Instructor, Hope House Scholars Program (2001 - Present)
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Nominating Committee (2008 - Present)
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Boston Review (2012 - Present)
  • Senior Research Associate, Aspen Institute Program on Education in a Changing Society (1999 - 2005)
  • Moderator, Aspen Institute Seminars (2008 - Present)
  • Member, National Commission on Civic Investment in Public Education (2010 - 2012)
  • Advisor, Giving Tuesday campaign (2012 - Present)
  • North American Reviews Editor, The Journal of Philosophy of Education (2002 - 2005)

Program Affiliations


  • Center for Human Rights and International Justice
  • Modern Thought and Literature
  • Public Policy
  • Science, Technology and Society

Professional Education


  • Ph.D., School of Education, Stanford University, Philosophy of Education (1998)
  • M.A., School of Education, Stanford University, Philosophy (1998)
  • B.A., Yale University, Philosophy (1991)

Research Interests


  • Civic Education
  • Philosophy
  • Poverty and Inequality
  • Sociology

2024-25 Courses


Stanford Advisees


All Publications


  • Trust, Transparency, and Replication in Political Science PS-POLITICAL SCIENCE & POLITICS Laitin, D. D., Reich, R. 2017; 50 (1): 172-175
  • Repugnant to the Whole Idea of Democracy? On the Role of Foundations in Democratic Societies PS-POLITICAL SCIENCE & POLITICS Reich, R. 2016; 49 (3): 466-471
  • When Adequate Isn’t: The Retreat From Equity in Educational Law and Policy and Why it Matters Emory Law Review Koski, W. S., Reich, R. 2006; 56 (3)
  • The liberal reach DISSENT SATZ, D., Reich, R. 2004; 51 (1): 72-75
  • Equality and Adequacy as Distributive Ideals for Education PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON MORAL AND CIVIC EDUCATION: SHAPING CITIZENS AND THEIR SCHOOLS Reich, R., Satz, D., Macleod, C., Tappolet, C. 2019: 174-187
  • Introduction to the symposium on equality of opportunity and education THEORY AND RESEARCH IN EDUCATION Callan, E., Newman, A., Reich, R., Satz, D. 2016; 14 (1): 63–64
  • WHY HOME SCHOOLING SHOULD BE REGULATED HOMESCHOOLING IN NEW VIEW, SECOND EDITION Reich, R., Cooper, B., Spielhagen, F., Ricci, C. 2016: 133–43
  • Gift Giving and Philanthropy in Market Democracy CRITICAL REVIEW Reich, R. 2014; 26 (3-4): 408-422
  • Strings Attached: Untangling the Ethics of Incentives. (Book Review) PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICS Book Review Authored by: Reich, R. 2014; 12 (1): 223–25
  • Philanthropy and Caring for the Needs of Strangers SOCIAL RESEARCH Reich, R. 2013; 80 (2): 517-538
  • Introduction Education, Justice, and Democracy Reich, R. edited by Reich, R., Allen, D. University of Chicago Press. 2013
  • Ethics and Inequality OCCUPY THE FUTURE Reich, R., Satz, D., Grusky, D. B., McAdam, D., Reich, R., Satz, D. 2013: 47–57
  • Occupy the Future OCCUPY THE FUTURE Grusky, D. B., McAdam, D., Reich, R., Satz, D., Grusky, D. B., McAdam, D., Reich, R., Satz, D. 2013: 3-+
  • Ethics and Inequality Occupy the Future Reich, R. edited by Reich, R., Grusky, D., McAdam, D., Satz, D. MIT Press/Boston Review. 2013
  • Occupy the Future edited by Reich, R., Grusky, D., McAdam, D., Satz, D. MIT Press/Boston Review. 2013
  • Equality, Adequacy, and K12 Education Education, Justice, and Democracy Allen, D., Reich, R. University of Chicago Press. 2013
  • Occupy the Future Satz, D. edited by Reich, R., Grusky, D., Adam, D. MIT Press/Boston Review. 2013
  • What are Foundations For? Boston Review Reich, R. 2013
  • Introduction Occupy the Future Reich, R. edited by Reich, R., Grusky, D., McAdams, D., Satz, D. MIT Press/Boston Review. 2013
  • The Great Recession, Philanthropy, and the Nonprofit Sector: Has the Great Recession Made Americans Stingier? The Great Recession Wimer, C., Mohamed, S., Jambulapati, S., Reich, R. edited by Grusky, D., Wimer, C. Russell Sage. 2011
  • Has the Great Recession Made Americans Stingier? GREAT RECESSION Reich, R., Wimer, C., Mohamed, S., Jambulapati, S., Grusky, D. B., Western, B., Wimer, C. 2011: 294–313
  • Report of the National Commission on Civic Investment in Public Education Reich, R. Public Education Network. 2011
  • Educational Authority and Children’s Rights Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Education Reich, R. edited by Siegel, H. Oxford University Press. 2009
  • Toward a Humanist Justice: The Political Philosophy of Susan Moller Okin : A Critical Introduction to the Work of Susan Moller Okin Reich, R., Satz, D. Oxford University Press. 2009
  • INTRODUCTION TO THE SYMPOSIUM ON EQUALITY AND ADEQUACY EDUCATION FINANCE AND POLICY Reich, R. 2008; 3 (4): 399-401
  • ON REGULATING HOMESCHOOLING: A REPLY TO GLANZER EDUCATIONAL THEORY Reich, R. 2008; 58 (1): 17–23
  • Common Schooling and Educational Choice as a Response to Pluralism Choice Policies and Outcomes: Philosophical and Empirical Perspectives on Limits to Choice in Liberal Democracies Reich, R. edited by Feinberg, W., Lubienski, C. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. 2008
  • On Regulating Homeschooling: A Reply to Glanzer Educational Theory Reich, R. 2008; 58 (1): 17-23
  • How and why to support common schooling and educational choice at the same time JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION Reich, R. 2007; 41 (4): 709-725
  • Identity in Democracy (Book Review) THEORY AND RESEARCH IN EDUCATION Book Review Authored by: Reich, R. 2007; 5 (2): 241–47
  • Citizenship under fire: Democratic education in times of conflict. (Book Review) JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION Book Review Authored by: Reich, R. 2007; 41 (1): 167-169
  • Review essay on Amy Gutmann’s Identity in Democracy Theory and Research in Education Reich, R. 2007; 5 (2): 241-51
  • Equality and Adequacy in the State’s Provision of Education: Mapping the Conceptual Landscape Getting Down to Facts Reich, R. 2007
  • Introduction to symposium The work of Susan Moller Okin THEORY AND RESEARCH IN EDUCATION Reich, R. 2006; 4 (1): 7–8
  • Philanthropy and its Uneasy Relation to Equality Taking Philanthropy Seriously: Beyond Noble Intentions to Responsible Giving Reich, R. edited by Damon, W., Verducci, S. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. 2006: 33–49
  • Editor’s Introduction Theory and Research in Education Reich, R. 2006; 4 (1): 7-8
  • Frederick Hess’s With the Best of Intentions: How Philanthropy is Reshaping K-12 Education Teachers College Record Reich, R. Cambridge: Harvard Education Press. 2006
  • Philanthropy and Its Uneasy Relation to Equality Philosophy and Public Policy Quarterly Reich, R. 2006; 26 (3/4)
  • Why Homeschooling Should Be Regulated Homeschooling in Full View Reich, R. edited by Cooper, B. S. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing. 2005: 109–120
  • Democracy at Risk How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation and What We Can Do About It PREFACE DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT Macedo, S., Alex-Assensoh, Y., Berry, J. M., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D. E., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W. A., Karpowitz, C. F., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R. G., Putnam, R. D., Rahn, W. M., Reich, R., Rodgers, R. R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K., Macedo, S., AlexAssensoh, Y., Berry, J., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W., Karpowitz, C., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R., Putnam, R., Rahn, W., Reich, R., Rodgers, R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K. 2005: VII-+
  • National Electoral Processes DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT Macedo, S., Alex-Assensoh, Y., Berry, J. M., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D. E., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W. A., Karpowitz, C. F., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R. G., Putnam, R. D., Rahn, W. M., Reich, R., Rodgers, R. R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K., Macedo, S., AlexAssensoh, Y., Berry, J., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W., Karpowitz, C., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R., Putnam, R., Rahn, W., Reich, R., Rodgers, R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K. 2005: 21–66
  • Toward a Political Science of Citizenship DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT Macedo, S., Alex-Assensoh, Y., Berry, J. M., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D. E., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W. A., Karpowitz, C. F., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R. G., Putnam, R. D., Rahn, W. M., Reich, R., Rodgers, R. R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K., Macedo, S., AlexAssensoh, Y., Berry, J., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W., Karpowitz, C., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R., Putnam, R., Rahn, W., Reich, R., Rodgers, R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K. 2005: 1–20
  • The American Metropolis DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT Macedo, S., Alex-Assensoh, Y., Berry, J. M., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D. E., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W. A., Karpowitz, C. F., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R. G., Putnam, R. D., Rahn, W. M., Reich, R., Rodgers, R. R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K., Macedo, S., AlexAssensoh, Y., Berry, J., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W., Karpowitz, C., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R., Putnam, R., Rahn, W., Reich, R., Rodgers, R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K. 2005: 67–116
  • Conclusion: Assessing Our Political Science of Citizenship DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT Macedo, S., Alex-Assensoh, Y., Berry, J. M., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D. E., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W. A., Karpowitz, C. F., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R. G., Putnam, R. D., Rahn, W. M., Reich, R., Rodgers, R. R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K., Macedo, S., AlexAssensoh, Y., Berry, J., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W., Karpowitz, C., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R., Putnam, R., Rahn, W., Reich, R., Rodgers, R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K. 2005: 155–78
  • Associational Life and the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sector DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT Macedo, S., Alex-Assensoh, Y., Berry, J. M., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D. E., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W. A., Karpowitz, C. F., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R. G., Putnam, R. D., Rahn, W. M., Reich, R., Rodgers, R. R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K., Macedo, S., AlexAssensoh, Y., Berry, J., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D., Fraga, L., Fung, A., Galston, W., Karpowitz, C., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R., Putnam, R., Rahn, W., Reich, R., Rodgers, R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K. 2005: 117–54
  • The Civic Perils of Homeschooling Georgian Journal of American Studies Reich, R. 2005
  • A Failure of Philanthropy: American Charity Shortchanges the Poor, and Public Policy is Partly to Blame Stanford Social Innovation Review Reich, R. 2005: 24-33
  • Service Learning and Multiple Models of Engaged Citizenship Boston University Journal of Education Reich, R. 2005; 186 (1): 23-28
  • Minors Within Minorities: A Problem for Liberal Multiculturalists Minorities Within Minorities: Equality, Rights, and Diversity Reich, R. edited by Spinner-Halev, J., Eisenberg, A. Cambridge University Press. 2005: 209–26
  • Democracy at Risk: How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation, and What We Can Do About It Macedo, S., Alex-Assensoh, Y., Berry, J. M., Brintnall, M., Campbell, D. E., Fraga, L. R., Galston, W. A., Karpowitz, C. F., Levi, M., Levinson, M., Lipsitz, K., Niemi, R. G., Putman, R. D., Rahn, W. M., Reich, R., Rodgers, R. R., Swanstrom, T., Walsh, K. C. Brookings Institution Press. 2005
  • Liberal pluralism? 2003 Philosophy of Eduction Meeting Reich, R. PHILOSOPHY EDUCATION SOC PUBLICATIONS OFFICE. 2004: 74–75
  • Hope House Scholars: The Universal Reach of the Liberal Arts Dissent Reich, R., Satz, D. 2004: 72-5
  • A Brief Response to Papers by David Laitin and François Grin Cultural Diversity versus Economic Solidarity Reich, R. edited by Van Parijis, P. Brussels: Deboeck Université, Francqui Scientific Library. 2004: 211–12
  • Multicultural accommodations in education Symposium on Collective Identities and Cosmopolitan Values Reich, R. OXFORD UNIV PRESS. 2003: 299–324
  • Liberal Pluralism? A Response to Richard Shweder Philosophy of Education Reich, R. Philosophy of Education Society, Urbana, IL:. 2003: 74–5
  • Multicultural Accommodations in Education Education and Citizenship in Liberal- Democratic Societies: Teaching for Cosmopolitan Values and Collective Identities Reich, R. edited by Feinberg, W., McDonough, K. Oxford University Press. 2003: 299–324
  • Review of "Archaic Torso of Apollo" Teaching With Fire: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Teach Rilke, R. M., Reich, R. edited by Intrator, S. M., Scribner, M. San Francisco: Jossey Bass. 2003
  • Common Schooling and Educational Choice A Companion to the Philosophy of Education Reich, R. edited by Curren, R. Blackwell Publishers. 2003: 430–442
  • The civic perils of homeschooling EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP Reich, R. 2002; 59 (7): 56-59
  • Testing the Boundaries of Parental Authority Over Education: The Case of Homeschooling Political and Moral Education, NOMOS XLIII Reich, R. edited by Macedo, S., Tamir, Y. New York: New York University Press. 2002: 275–313
  • Opting Out of Education: Yoder, Mozert, and the Autonomy of Children Educational Theory Reich, R. 2002; 52 (4): 445-61
  • What good is philosophy? Annual Meeting of the Philosophy-of-Education-Society Reich, R. PHILOSOPHY EDUCATION SOC PUBLICATIONS OFFICE. 2001: 90–93
  • Stephen Macedo's Diversity and Distrust: Civic Education in a Multicultural Democracy Philosophy in Review Reich, R. 2000; 20 (6): 430-1
  • Families and schools as compensating agents in moral development for a multicultural society JOURNAL OF MORAL EDUCATION Okin, S. M., Reich, R. 1999; 28 (3): 283-298
  • Communitarian liberalism and common schools Annual Meeting of the Philosophy-of-Education-Society Reich, R. PHILOSOPHY EDUCATION SOC PUBLICATIONS OFFICE. 1998: 335–337
  • Confusion About the Socratic Method: Socratic Paradoxes and Contemporary Invocations of Socrates Philosophy of Education Reich, R. Philosophy of Education Society, Urbana, IL. 1998
  • Revitalizing the ecosystem for youth - A new perspective for school reform PHI DELTA KAPPAN TIMPANE, M., Reich, R. 1997; 78 (6): 464-470
  • The paradoxes of education in Rorty's liberal utopia Annual Meeting of the Philosophy-of-Education-Society Reich, R. PHILOSOPHY EDUCATION SOC PUBLICATIONS OFFICE. 1997: 342–351
  • The Paradoxes of Education in Rorty’s Liberal Utopia Philosophy of Education Reich, R. Philosophy of Education Society, Urbana, IL.. 1996
  • Re-Examining the Team A - Team B Exercise The International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence Reich, R. 1989; 3 (3): 387-403