Jill Biden

Jill Biden. She is an American educator and author who has served as the First Lady of the United States since 2021, previously holding the role of Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Married to President Joe Biden, she is the first presidential spouse to maintain a full-time career outside the White House, continuing her work as a professor of English. Her public life is defined by her advocacy for military families, community college education, and literacy.

Early life and education

Jill Tracy Jacobs was born in Hammonton, New Jersey, and grew up in the Philadelphia suburb of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Bonny Jean Jacobs, was a homemaker, and her father, Donald Carl Jacobs, worked as a savings and loan association banker. She graduated from Upper Moreland High School in 1969 before attending Brandywine College of Widener University. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Delaware in 1975, later earning a Master of Education from West Chester University and a Master of Arts in English from the University of Delaware. In 2007, she received her Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of Delaware, with a dissertation focusing on student retention.

Teaching career

Her career in education spans over four decades, primarily within community colleges and high schools. She began teaching English and reading at the St. Mark's High School in Wilmington, Delaware. For over fifteen years, she taught English and writing at Delaware Technical Community College. During her tenure as Second Lady, she continued teaching English and writing at Northern Virginia Community College, a role she resumed after the 2016 election. As First Lady, she became a professor at Northern Virginia Community College, making her the first spouse to hold a salaried government position while serving.

Marriage and family

She married then-Senator Joe Biden in 1977 at the Chapel at the United Nations in New York City, becoming stepmother to his two sons, Beau Biden and Hunter Biden. The couple has one daughter together, Ashley Biden, a social worker. The family has faced significant personal tragedy, including the deaths of Biden's first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and infant daughter in a 1972 car accident, and later the death of their son Beau from brain cancer in 2015. The Bidens are members of St. Joseph on the Brandywine in Greenville, Delaware.

First Lady of the United States

Upon the inauguration of Joe Biden in 2021, she assumed the role of First Lady. She selected the White House East Wing as her primary office and hired a staff led by her longtime aide. Her official portrait was taken by photographer Celeste Sloman. She has undertaken a full schedule of official duties, including hosting foreign leaders like Emmanuel Macron of France and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and representing the United States at events such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Advocacy and initiatives

Her key initiatives have centered on education, military families, and health. She founded the Biden Breast Health Initiative in 1993 in Delaware. As Second Lady, she launched Joining Forces with Michelle Obama, a White House initiative to support military families, veterans, and caregivers, which she relaunched in 2021. She is a vocal proponent of community colleges and career and technical education, championing the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. She also leads the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research.

Public image and recognition

Often described as a protective force within the Biden administration, she is known for her disciplined and private nature. She has received numerous honors, including the Colonial School District Hall of Fame induction and an honorary degree from UMass Boston. In 2021, ''Time'' magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people. She has authored several books, including the children's book Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops and the memoir Where the Light Enters. Her fashion choices, often featuring designs by Gabriela Hearst and Ralph Lauren, are also frequently noted.