History of Cecile Richards in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: January 21, 2025

Cecile Richards is a prominent American activist who led Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its Action Fund from 2006 to 2018. During her tenure, she became a recognized figure in the reproductive rights movement. Beyond her work with Planned Parenthood, Richards joined the Ford Foundation's board of trustees in 2010. More recently, in 2019, she co-founded Supermajority, a political action group focused on women's issues.

July 15, 1957: Birth of Cecile Richards

Cecile Richards was born in Waco, Texas on July 15, 1957.

January 1971: Honorary Page to Texas State Legislator

At age 13, Cecile Richards was an honorary page to the Texas State Legislator in January 1971.

1980: Graduation from Brown University

Cecile Richards graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from Brown University in 1980.

1996: Founded Texas Freedom Network

In 1996, Cecile Richards founded the Texas Freedom Network.

2003: Contribution to "Sisterhood Is Forever"

Cecile Richards contributed the piece "Combating the Religious Right" to the 2003 anthology "Sisterhood Is Forever: The Women's Anthology for a New Millennium".

2006: President of Planned Parenthood

In 2006, Cecile Richards became the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

2010: Ford Foundation Board of Trustees

Cecile Richards was elected to the Ford Foundation board of trustees in 2010.

2018: Departure from Planned Parenthood and Memoir Publication

Cecile Richards stepped down as president of Planned Parenthood in 2018. The same year, she published her memoir, "Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead".