Dr. Constance Rice
Dr. Rice was the speaker at our 2017 Annual Meeting.
Constance W. Rice is the Senior Executive Fellow for Casey Family Programs; the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and building Communities of Hope for children and families across America. Founded in 1966, Casey Family Programs works in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to influence long-lasting improvements to the safety and success of children, families and the communities where they live.
Dr. Rice was formerly the Managing Director for Knowledge Management for Casey Family Programs. The team provides subject matter content for strategic consultants working in 50 states and jurisdictions. Information includes, but is not limited to, child protection policy, immigration, best practices, education, employment, housing, mental health, and kinship care.
A tireless activist and civic volunteer, Dr. Rice has made her mark in many areas of national and international service. As founder and past president of Strategic Education Centers, Dr. Rice and her advisory board established two educational centers in Swaziland.
Dr. Rice also served as the national founding Executive Director of the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation, U.S.A. Dedicated to establishing the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, the foundation is now located in New York City.
Dr. Rice is also known for her establishment of the Health and Nutrition Programs for seven elementary schools which provided evening dinners for the students and their families and educational workshops on budgeting, anger management, tutoring, and urban gardening. In addition, Dr. Rice has partnered with the Meredith Mathews YMCA to launch the 2011/2012 global scholar program in conjunction with the Black Achievers Project. Dr. Rice has also lectured extensively on the importance of Diversity in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe.
Dr. Rice is the former Vice Chancellor, and Senior Chancellor of Seattle Community Colleges. She also served as interim president of North Seattle Community College and is a former affiliate faculty member at the University of Washington’s Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering. Dr. Rice was the chair of Women and Ethnic studies at Shoreline Community College. Dr. Rice holds a graduate degree from the University of Washington, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and a doctor of philosophy from the University of Washington, College of Education.
Dr. Rice has had leadership positions in the following boards: Seattle Community College District, Seattle Art Museum Executive Board Community and Education Engagement Committee, and served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Washington Student Achievement Council and was its Vice Chair. Dr. Rice served on the University of Washington Visiting Committee for the Evans School. She is the past national western area Vice Director of The Links, Incorporated, and served on the Board of Directors Downtown Rotary, the Rainier Club, The Seattle Foundation, and Swedish Hospital.
Numerous civic and humanitarian organizations have honored Dr. Rice for her industrious, unflagging community service.
Dr. Rice is married to Norman B. Rice, former Mayor of the City of Seattle.
- Appointed by Governor Jay Inslee from July 22, 2013 to September 30, 2013
- Reappointed by Governor Jay Inslee from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2019
- Confirmed by Senate on March 6, 2014
