M adeleine Korbel Albright (1937-2022) was the first woman appointed to the office of United States Secretary of State. Sworn into office in 1997 after unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Albright was the 64th Secretary of State and the highest-ranking woman in the United States government at the time. Prior to this position, she served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997. In both jobs, Albright created policies and institutions to help guide the world into a new century of peace and prosperity.

Concentrating on a bipartisan approach to U.S. foreign policy, Madeleine Albright worked to create a consensus on the need for U.S. leadership and engagement in the world. Among her achievements were ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention and progress toward stability in Eastern and Central Europe.

Albright has dedicated her life to international study. After receiving her B.A. at Wellesley College in 1959, she studied international relations at Johns Hopkins University before earning her M.A. and Ph.D. at Columbia University. Prior to her appointment as Secretary of State, she had a diverse career: Chief Legislative Assistant to Sen. Edward Muskie; Woodrow Wilson fellow; President of the Center for National Policy—a nonprofit research organization; Research Professor of International Affairs; and Director of the Women in Foreign Service Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. During President Clinton’s first term, Albright served as the United States’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations and member of Clinton’s National Security Council.

As a refugee whose family fled Czechoslovakia—first from the Nazis and later from the Communists, Albright represents the highest ideals and aspirations of immigrants who come to America seeking to make major contributions to our society. As a leader in international relations, she helped change the course of history and, in so doing, also set a new standard for women around the world.

In 2001, following her post as Secretary of State post, Madeleine Albright authored several bestsellers, launched a private investment fund, and consulted on global strategy. In 2012, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Biography provided by the National Women’s Hall of Fame