Provost Named One of D.C.’s ‘Most Powerful Women’ by Washingtonian

For the second year in a row, Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice has been recognized on Washingtonian's list of “Most Powerful Women” in the magazine’s October 2026 issue. The list celebrates 300 D.C.-area women who are leaders on local and national stages, shaping fields like government, business, the arts, law, media, education and nonprofits.

Rice is featured in the “Education Powers” section alongside nine other education leaders, including five university presidents. 

Washingtonian says it developed the list by reaching out to experts across fields to identify women who are “making things happen—influencing a piece of the world, pulling levers, building things, bringing people together, effecting change.”

Rice’s leadership has helped strengthen the University of Maryland’s place as a top 20 public research university, with a focus on investing in the people who drive UMD’s excellence and impact. Through initiatives like the Grand Challenges Grants Program and Center for Community Engagement, she has championed faculty and interdisciplinary research teams tackling pressing societal issues, while prioritizing their impact on people and communities. Investments in student success, experiential learning and educational innovation are creating new opportunities for students to learn, discover and thrive.

Her recognition reflects the profound influence of higher education in addressing complex global challenges, and the university’s role as a partner to Washington, D.C., the region and the state of Maryland.