Betsy DeVos

Betsy DeVos, born Elisabeth Dee DeVos on January 8, 1958, is an American politician, philanthropist, and former government official. She served as the 11th United States Secretary of Education from 2017 to 2021. DeVos is well-known for her conservative political activism and her support for school choice, school voucher programs, and charter schools. Prior to her role as Secretary of Education, she was the Republican national committeewoman for Michigan from 1992 to 1997 and served as the chair of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000, and again from 2003 to 2005. DeVos has also been involved with various educational organizations, including the Foundation for Excellence in Education and the Alliance for School Choice. She is married to former Amway CEO Dick DeVos and is the sister of Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater USA.