Condoleeza Rice

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Condoleeza Rice has been a trailblazer in American politics who has helped shape our country’s global strategy. Growing up, Rice dreamt of becoming a classical pianist. But when she began studying international relations at the University of Denver at age 15, she never looked back. Rice earned her Bachelor’s degree cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa and went on to receive a Master’s in economics from Notre Dame and a PhD in International Studies from the University of Denver. From there, Rice joined the faculty of Stanford University. At Stanford, Rice received several distinguished honors, including the 1984 Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 1993 School of Humanities and Sciences Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching. Rice’s expertise in military and security led her to government service. In 1989, she served as director of Soviet and East European affairs with the National Security Council, where she was a special assistant to President George H.W. Bush during key global events, including the break-up of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany. By 2001, Rice had established herself as an influencer in global affairs. That year, President George W. Bush named her National Security Adviser. And in 2005, Rice took on the role of Secretary of State. She was the first African-American woman to hold both positions. Since leaving politics, Rice has not slowed down. In July 2022, she joined the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, the Denver Broncos’ ownership group. Rice expressed her excitement about joining the team in a tweet which read in part, “I spent much of my younger years in Denver, so to be able to combine my love of the game with my love of this great city and team is an adventure of a lifetime and a great opportunity.”