Condoleezza Rice is probably the most powerful black woman in the history of the world. Born November 14, 1954, in Birmingham, Alabama, Condoleezza Rice earned her bachelor's degree in political science, from the University of Denver in 1974; her master's from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. Dr. Rice became Secretary of State on January 26, 2005. Prior to this, she was the Assistant to the National Security Advisor. In June 1999, she completed a 6-year tenure as Stanford University 's Provost. She has been a member of the Center for International Security and Arms Control, a Senior Fellow of the Institute for International Studies, and a Fellow of the Hoover Institution.