Life
Former U.S. Secy. of State.,Condoleezza Rice turns down offer to head Penn State University
Former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (pictured), has rejected attempts at wooing her to Penn State University as a successor to President Rodney Erickson, who plans on retiring by the end of June next year.
Rice, who served under George W. Bush, was not interested in the university’s top post.
According to Ms. Rice’s chief of staff, Georgia Godfrey, she (Rice), will remain at Stanford University, where she is a senior fellow on public policy at the Hoover Institution.
“We received a request about this position through a search firm,” she added, “our office declined on her behalf since she intends to remain at Stanford. Penn State is a fine institution and Dr. Rice wishes the search committee the very best.”
Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said, “Because this is a confidential process, I can’t confirm or deny this report. However, if true, the search firm is doing its job in reaching out broadly to find the most experienced and qualified candidates.”
Rice has long ties to Stanford, having been involved in academics and administration since 1981, according to her Stanford profile.
She served as secretary of state from 2005-09 and was the second woman and first black person to obtain the position. She also served as Bush’s national security adviser from 2001-05.
