Betsy DeVos | |
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United States Secretary of Education Nominee |
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Taking office TBD* |
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President | Donald Trump |
Succeeding | Phil Rosenfelt (Acting) |
Chair of the Michigan Republican Party | |
In office 2003–2005 |
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Preceded by | Gerald Hills |
Succeeded by | Saul Anuzis |
In office 1996–2000 |
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Preceded by | Susy Avery |
Succeeded by | Gerald Hills |
Personal details | |
Born |
Elisabeth Prince January 8, 1958 Holland, Michigan, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Dick DeVos |
Children | 4 |
Relatives |
Edgar Prince (father) Erik Prince (brother) Richard DeVos (father-in-law) |
Education | Calvin College (BA) |
Religion | Christianity (non-denominational) |
*Pending Senate Confirmation |
Betsy DeVos Education Secretary Confirmation Hearing, full video of hearing from C-SPAN, January 17, 2017 | |
Betsy DeVos's confirmation hearing, in three minutes, The Washington Post, January 17, 2017 |
Elisabeth "Betsy" DeVos (née Prince; born January 8, 1958) is an American businesswoman and philanthropist. DeVos is a member of the Republican Party known for her advocacy of school choice, voucher programs, and ties to the Reformed Christian community. She was Republican National Committeewoman for Michigan from 1992 to 1997 and served as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000, with reelection to the post in 2003. DeVos has been a defender of the Detroit charter school system and she is a member of the board of the Foundation for Excellence in Education. She has served as chairwoman of the board of Alliance for School Choice and heads the All Children Matter PAC. DeVos is married to Dick DeVos, the former CEO of multi-level marketing company Amway, and is the daughter-in-law of billionaire and Amway co-founder Richard DeVos. Her brother, Erik Prince, a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, is the founder of Blackwater USA, later renamed Academi. DeVos is the daughter of Edgar Prince, founder of the Prince Corporation.
On November 23, 2016, then President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate DeVos to serve as Secretary of Education in his administration. On January 31, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved her nomination on a party-line vote, sending her nomination to the Senate floor.