Josef Korbel was the transformative mentor in Condoleezza Rice's life. During the spring of her junior year at the University of Denver, while studying music, Rice wandered into Korbel's introductory course on international politics. He opened up an entirely new world to her as a specialist on the Soviet Union. When Rice discussed plans to attend law school, Korbel told her 'You are very talented, you have to become a professor,' redirecting her career from law to international studies. He supervised her PhD at Denver's Graduate School of International Studies, which he had founded. Korbel is also the father of Madeleine Albright — making him the mentor of TWO future U.S. Secretaries of State. Korbel told Rice he wanted her to meet his daughter Madeleine someday. He died in 1977 before either protégée reached the pinnacle of American diplomacy.