Condoleezza Rice was the 66th United States Secretary of State – only the second woman, and first black woman ever, to hold the office. She was also President Bush's National Security Advisor during his first term, distinguishing herself as the first woman ever to serve in that position. Before joining the Bush administration, Rice was a professor of political science at Stanford University, where she served as Provost from 1993 to 1999. During the administration of George H.W.