Professor Zegart studied for her Ph.D in Political Science under Condoleezza Rice at Stanford University. During this time, she also served as a member of President Bill Clinton's National Security Council staff. Zegart holds an A.B. in East Asian Studies magna cum laude from Harvard University. Prior to pursuing an academic career, she was a Fulbright Scholar and advised Fortune 100 companies on strategy and organizational effectiveness as an associate with McKinsey & Company. She is currently a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.