Jane Marie Cox

Jane Marie Cox. Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is an American lawyer, author, and former First Lady of the United States, married to the 44th president, Barack Obama. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, she built a career in law and public service before becoming a globally recognized advocate for health, education, and military families during her tenure in the White House. Her memoir, *Becoming*, published in 2018, became an international bestseller and cemented her status as a influential cultural figure.

Early life and education

She was born in 1964 on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, to Fraser Robinson III and Marian Shields Robinson. She attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School before enrolling at Princeton University, where she graduated *cum laude* with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1985. She then earned her Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1988, where she participated in demonstrations advocating for the hiring of more minority faculty and joined the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.

Career

After law school, she became an associate at the Chicago law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her future husband, a summer associate named Barack Obama. She later worked as an Assistant to the Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, and as the Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development for Chicago City Hall. She served as the founding Executive Director of the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, a national AmeriCorps program that prepares youth for public service. From 1996 to 2002, she was the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, where she helped develop the university's Community Service Center. She subsequently served as Vice President for Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center. As First Lady, she launched several major initiatives, including Let's Move!, aimed at combating childhood obesity, and Joining Forces, a nationwide program to support military families, veterans, and caregivers, co-founded with Dr. Jill Biden. She also championed the Reach Higher Initiative to promote higher education and the Let Girls Learn initiative to support adolescent girls' education globally.

Personal life

She married Barack Obama in 1992 at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. The couple has two daughters, Malia Obama and Sasha Obama. Her mother, Marian Shields Robinson, moved into the White House to help care for her granddaughters during the Presidency of Barack Obama. The family's personal life, including their emphasis on a healthy lifestyle and their adoption of the Portuguese Water Dog Bo and Sunny, was often highlighted during their time in Washington, D.C. Following the presidency, the family resides primarily in Washington, D.C., and maintains a home in Martha's Vineyard.

Legacy and impact

She is widely regarded as a transformative and popular First Lady of the United States, known for bringing contemporary style and relatability to the role while advocating for substantive policy issues. Her initiatives, particularly Let's Move!, brought national attention to childhood nutrition and led to the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Her powerful speeches at events like the 2012 Democratic National Convention and the 2016 Democratic National Convention are considered landmark political addresses. Her memoir, *Becoming*, broke publishing records and its accompanying global tour reinforced her immense cultural influence. She has received numerous honors, including a Grammy Award for the audiobook of *Becoming*, and was named to *Time* magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential People multiple times. Her legacy continues through the Obama Foundation and her ongoing work promoting civic engagement, leadership, and education for young people around the world. Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:First Ladies of the United States Category:American lawyers Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Princeton University alumni