2017-01-19
Lois Dickson Rice was raised the daughter of a janitor in Portland, Maine, and would go on to help persuade Congress to provide federal subsidies in the form of Pell Grants to millions of disadvantaged college students. Rice died January 4, 2017, in Washington at the age of 83.
In recognition of her trailblazing work, Bowdoin awarded Rice an honorary degree in 1984. Rice’s four brothers are among the College’s alumni: Leon Dickson ’35, Audley Dickson ’38, David Dickson ’41, and Frederick Dickson ’45, as are two nephews, Leon A. Dickson ’67 and David Dickson ’76. Rice’s daughter, Susan E. Rice, is President Obama’s national security adviser. Read more about Lois Dickson Rice in The New York Times.