Condoleezza Rice
Born 1954 · Age 71
American political scientist, diplomat, former U.S. National Security Advisor (2001–2005) and U.S. Secretary of State (2005–2009); longtime Stanford professor and provost; director of the Hoover Institution (from 2020).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Birmingham, Alabama
Condoleezza Rice born to Angelena and John Wesley Rice Jr. in segregated Birmingham, Alabama.
Begins piano and early education
Started piano, music and early studies (music, figure skating, ballet) around age three; early aspiration to be a concert pianist.
Affected by Birmingham church bombing
Personal connection to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing; one of her classmates was among the victims—formative childhood event.
Family moves to Denver, Colorado
Rice's family relocates to Denver where her father worked at the University of Denver; summer visits to Denver had occurred earlier.
Graduates high school
Graduated from St. Mary's Academy (Cherry Hills Village, Colorado) and began college work while still a senior.
Enrolls at University of Denver
Began undergraduate studies at the University of Denver (initially as a music major).
Earns B.A. in Political Science, University of Denver
Graduated cum laude, inducted into Phi Beta Kappa; switched from music to political science after influential classes.
Earns M.A. in Political Science, Notre Dame
Completed a master's degree in political science at the University of Notre Dame.
Interns at U.S. State Department
First worked at the State Department as an intern in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs under the Carter administration.
Studies Russian at Moscow State University (summer)
Studied Russian language at Moscow State University, deepening her Soviet-area expertise.
Ford Foundation fellowship & Stanford fellowship
Won a Ford Foundation Dual Expertise Fellowship in Soviet Studies and International Security; became a fellow at Stanford's Arms Control & Disarmament Program (1980–81).
Receives Ph.D. in Political Science
Awarded a Ph.D. from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver; dissertation on Czechoslovak military politics.
Joins Stanford faculty as assistant professor
Hired by Stanford University as an assistant professor of political science, beginning a long association with Stanford.
Publishes The Gorbachev Era (co‑authored)
Co-authored The Gorbachev Era (1986 in some records) with Alexander Dallin — major academic contribution on Soviet reforms and leadership.
Publishes Uncertain Allegiance (book)
Published Uncertain Allegiance: The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Army (1984), based on her doctoral research.
Wins Walter J. Gores Award for Teaching Excellence
Received Stanford's Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching (one of Stanford's top teaching honors).
Noticed by Brent Scowcroft at Stanford meeting
Performance at a 1985 arms control meeting drew the attention of Brent Scowcroft, which later led to White House roles.
Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship
Served as an International Affairs Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations (mid-1980s), attachment that led to her Joint Chiefs role.
Special assistant to Director of Joint Chiefs of Staff
Served as special assistant working on nuclear strategic planning while an international affairs fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Promoted to associate professor at Stanford
Advanced to associate professor (1987) and continued to build credentials as a Soviet specialist.
Appointed to National Security Council (Soviet & East European affairs)
Joined the George H. W. Bush administration as director (then senior director) for Soviet and East European affairs; special assistant to the president (1989–March 1991).
Wrote/assisted on 'Chicken Kiev' speech
Authored the speech (often associated with advice against pushing Ukraine quickly to independence) during her NSC tenure at the end of the Soviet era.
Appointed to California redistricting committee
Appointed by California Governor Pete Wilson in late 1991 to a bipartisan committee to draw new state legislative and congressional districts.
Returns to Stanford faculty
Returned to Stanford after NSC service and continued teaching and consulting on post-Soviet affairs.
Appointed to Transamerica board
Named to the board of Transamerica Corporation (1991).
Receives honorary doctorate from Morehouse College
Awarded an honorary doctorate by Morehouse College (1991).
Founds Center for a New Generation
Founded after-school program to increase high-school graduation rates in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park, California.
Appointed to Hewlett-Packard board
Joined Hewlett-Packard's board of directors (1992).
Appointed to Chevron board; travels to Kazakhstan
Recommended by George Shultz for Chevron board service; advised on a Kazakhstan energy project and had a supertanker later named in her honor.
Chevron names a supertanker 'SS Condoleezza Rice'
Chevron honored Rice by naming a 129,000-ton supertanker after her (1993); later renaming occurred amid controversy.
Named Senior Fellow at Institute for International Studies & Hoover (courtesy)
Became senior fellow at Stanford's Institute for International Studies and a senior fellow (by courtesy) at the Hoover Institution.
Becomes Stanford Provost
Appointed Stanford University's provost (chief budget and academic officer), the school's first female, first African-American and youngest provost (1993–1999); granted tenure and full professorship.
Receives honorary doctorate (University of Alabama)
Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Alabama in recognition of her scholarship and public service.
Balances Stanford budget and produces surplus
Within two years as provost she eliminated a $20M deficit and reported a record surplus of over $14.5M (circa 1995).
Publishes Germany Unified and Europe Transformed
Co-authored Germany Unified and Europe Transformed (1995) with Philip Zelikow, a study in statecraft.
Receives honorary doctorate from University of Notre Dame
Awarded an honorary doctorate by Notre Dame (1995).
Serves on Federal Advisory Committee on Gender-Integrated Training
Appointed to the federal advisory committee considering gender integration in U.S. military training (1997).
Becomes foreign policy advisor to George W. Bush
Took a one‑year leave from Stanford to serve as foreign policy advisor to Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign; led a group called 'the Vulcans.'
Ends tenure as Stanford Provost
Stepped down as Stanford provost on June 30, 1999 after a six-year tenure (1993–1999).
Speaks at 2000 Republican National Convention
Delivered a high-profile speech at the RNC during the Bush presidential campaign (summer 2000).
Named National Security Advisor (announced)
Announced as President-elect George W. Bush's National Security Advisor (December 16, 2000); she stepped down from Stanford to join the administration.
Resigns Chevron committee post
Resigned from Chevron's committee on public policy on January 15, 2001, to join the Bush administration.
Assumes office as U.S. National Security Advisor
Officially entered duty as the 19th U.S. National Security Advisor on January 20, 2001; first woman to hold the post.
Emergency briefing with CIA director on terror threats
Met with CIA Director George Tenet in an 'emergency meeting' on July 10, 2001 to discuss potential al-Qaeda threats before 9/11.
Receives PDB 'Bin Laden Determined To Strike in US'
The President's Daily Brief (Aug 6, 2001) warned of al-Qaeda threats; Rice characterized it as historical information.
September 11 attacks and role in NSC
As National Security Advisor she was centrally involved in the administration's response to the 9/11 attacks.
Receives honorary doctorate from National Defense University
Awarded an honorary degree by the National Defense University in recognition of her service and expertise (2002).
Runs Iraq Stabilization Group wanes
Named to run the Iraq Stabilization Group (Oct 2003); by May 2004 reports indicated the council had become virtually nonexistent.
Receives Senator John Heinz Award (Jefferson Awards)
Awarded the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official (2003).
Named to run Iraq Stabilization Group
Appointed to oversee the Iraq Stabilization Group (Oct 2003) formed to help reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Receives honorary doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law
Awarded an honorary doctorate (2003).
Receives honorary doctorates from University of Louisville & Michigan State University
Received further honorary doctorates in 2004 from University of Louisville and Michigan State University.
9/11 Commission subpoena issue
Declined to testify before the 9/11 Commission in March 2004 citing executive privilege; later agreed to appear under conditions that would not set precedent.
Nominated for U.S. Secretary of State
Nominated by President George W. Bush to be Secretary of State on November 14, 2004 (her 50th birthday).
Chairs Millennium Challenge Corporation board
Chaired the Millennium Challenge Corporation's board of directors while serving as Secretary of State.
Launches 'Transformational Diplomacy' policy
Pioneered 'Transformational Diplomacy' to expand democratic, responsible governments and reallocate diplomatic resources to areas of trouble.
Negotiates Israeli withdrawal and Gaza border openings
Helped negotiate Israeli withdrawal and opening of Gaza border crossings (2005).
Assumes office as U.S. Secretary of State
Entered duty as the 66th U.S. Secretary of State on January 26, 2005; first African-American woman to hold the office.
Helps secure ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
Instrumental in negotiating the August 14, 2006 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
Rejects House subpoena regarding Niger yellowcake
In April 2007 declined a House subpoena on grounds of executive privilege related to prewar Niger yellowcake claims.
Six‑party talks result: 2007 North Korea deal
Part of U.S. negotiating team achieving a 2007 deal in which North Korea agreed to close its main reactor in exchange for fuel and aid (~$400M).
Organizes Annapolis Conference
Organized and hosted the Annapolis Conference (Nov 27, 2007) focused on Israeli-Palestinian peace and a two‑state solution.
U.S.-India 123 Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed
October 2008 signing of the U.S.-India Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (the 123 Agreement).
Leaves office as Secretary of State
Term as Secretary of State ended January 20, 2009; succeeded by Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Returns to Stanford University
Returned to Stanford as a political science professor and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution (March 1, 2009).
Publishes Extraordinary, Ordinary People (memoir)
Published Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family (2010), an autobiographical work on early life and family.
Receives Horatio Alger Award
Honored with the Horatio Alger Award (Class of 2010) for perseverance and success from humble beginnings.
Receives Thomas D. White National Defense Award (presented 2010, award for 2009)
Received the U.S. Air Force Academy's 2009 Thomas D. White National Defense Award, presented in August 2010.
Joins Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty & Global Center
In September 2010 became Denning Professor in Global Business & the Economy at Stanford GSB and a director of its Global Center for Business and the Economy.
Publishes No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington
Released memoir recounting her Washington years (published 2011).
Becomes one of first female members of Augusta National Golf Club
In August 2012 Rice and Darla Moore became the first women admitted to Augusta National Golf Club.
Speaks at 2012 Republican National Convention
Delivered a prominent speech at the 2012 RNC in Tampa, showing support for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
Joins Ban Bossy campaign
Became a spokesperson for the Ban Bossy campaign advocating leadership roles for girls (2014).
Publishes Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom
Released Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom (2017), a book on democracy and history.
Announced as next Director of Hoover Institution
January 2020 announcement that Rice would succeed Thomas W. Gilligan as director of Stanford's Hoover Institution effective September 1, 2020.
Assumes office as Director of Hoover Institution
Began service as the 8th director of Stanford University's Hoover Institution on September 1, 2020.
Board membership: Dropbox & Makena Capital Management (public mention)
Listed as a member of the Board of Directors of Dropbox and of Makena Capital Management, LLC (date not specified in sources; ongoing roles).
Joins Walton‑Penner ownership group to buy Denver Broncos
Announced as a member of the Walton‑Penner ownership group that agreed to buy the NFL's Denver Broncos (July 11, 2022).
NFL approves sale of Denver Broncos to Walton‑Penner group
NFL owners approved the purchase of the Denver Broncos by the Walton‑Penner group for $4.65 billion (Aug 9, 2022). Rice is part of the ownership group.
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