Jill Biden
Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden (born June 3, 1951) is an American educator and the current First Lady of the United States as the wife of President Joe Biden. She also served as the Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017 when her husband was vice president.
Jill Biden | |
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![]() Official portrait, January 2021 | |
First Lady of the United States | |
Current | |
Assumed role January 20, 2021 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Melania Trump |
Second Lady of the United States | |
In role January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017 | |
Vice President | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Lynne Cheney |
Succeeded by | Karen Pence |
Personal details | |
Born | Jill Tracy Jacobs June 3, 1951 Hammonton, New Jersey, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Joe Biden (m. 1977) |
Children |
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Relatives | Biden family |
Residence | White House |
Education | University of Delaware West Chester University Villanova University |
Signature | ![]() |
Academic background | |
Thesis | Student Retention at the Community College: Meeting Students' Needs (2006) |
Doctoral advisor | Barbara Curry |
Academic work | |
Institutions | Delaware Technical Community College Northern Virginia Community College |
She has a bachelor's degree in English and a doctoral degree in education from the University of Delaware, as well as master's degrees in education and English from West Chester University and Villanova University. She taught English and reading in high schools for thirteen years and instructed teens with emotional disabilities.
She is the founder of the Biden Breast Health Initiative, a non-profit organization. She is also the co-founder of the Book Buddies program and the Biden Foundation. Biden is active in Delaware Boots on the Ground. With Michelle Obama, she is co-founder of Joining Forces. Biden has written a memoir and two books for children.
Early life and EducationEdit
Jill Tracy Jacobs was born on June 3, 1951, in Hammonton, New Jersey to Donald Carl Jacobs and Bonny Jean Godfrey Jacobs. As a child, she lived in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, and relocated at the age of eight to Mahwah, New Jersey. She is the eldest of five sisters.
Jacobs always intended to have a career. She began working at age 15, as a waitress in Ocean City, New Jersey. She attended Upper Moreland High School, where by her own later description, she always had a love of English class, and her classmates have said she was a good student. She graduated in 1969.
She attended universities such as, University of Delaware, Villanova University, West Chester University, and Brandywine Junior College. She also taught at schools such as, St. Marks High School, Brandywine High School, and Delaware Technical & Community College.
Marriage and familyEdit
Jill and Joe Biden were married by a catholic priest on June 17, 1977. They were married at the United Nations in New York City. She and her husband have one child together, their daughter Ashley Biden. She also helped raise his two sons from his first marriage, Beau and Hunter. While she did help raise them, she did not formally adopt them.
Second Lady of the United States (2009–2017)Edit
Jill Biden became the new second lady when her husband inaugurated as the Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2009. She was believed to have been the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband was vice president. Since 2009, she has been a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College.
By her White House staff and by her preference, she was referred to as "Dr. Jill Biden".
First Lady of the United States (2021–present)Edit
Jill Biden assumed the role and duties as the First Lady of the United States when her husband became inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States in January 2021. At the age of 69, she is the oldest woman to assume the role of first lady, and is the first Italian American first lady. She continued teaching at Northern Virginia College, and she is the first sitting wife of a president to hold a paying job while her husband's term as president.[1][2]
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ Gaudiano, Nicole (November 12, 2020). "First professor: Jill Biden to make history as a first lady with a day job". Politico. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ↑ Bennett, Kate (February 20, 2021). "Jill Biden is hitting the ground running – in all directions". CNN. Retrieved March 8, 2021.