CONDOLEEZZA RICE

Condoleezza Rice was born on November 14, 1954, in Birmingham, Alabama. She earned her bachelor of arts in political science in 1974 from the University of Denver, her master's degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1975, and her doctorate in political science from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. After her graduation, Rice accepted a position at Stanford University as a professor of political science. In 1987 she served as an advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in 1989 was appointed director of Soviet and East European Affairs on the National Security Council. Rice returned to Stanford in 1991 and from 1993 until 1999 she served as Stanford's Provost. In 2001 she was appointed National Security Advisor by President George W. Bush, and succeeded Colin Powel as Secretary of State in 2005 and served until 2009. As Secretary of State, Rice supported the expansion of democratic governments, and championed the idea of "Transformational Diplomacy," which sought to redistribute U.S. diplomats to areas of severe social and political trouble, address such issues as disease, drug smuggling and human trafficking, and reemphasize aid through the creation of the position of Director of Foreign Assistance. Rice authored No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington (2011).

"Nobody needs to tell me how to be black. I've been black all my life."