Career Timeline of Jill Biden: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Jill Biden, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Jill Biden is an American educator and was the First Lady of the United States from 2021 to 2025. As the wife of President Joe Biden, she previously served as the Second Lady during his vice presidency from 2009 to 2017. Notably, she continued her career as a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College during her time as First Lady, making her the first to hold a salaried job and carry on a professional career outside the White House for most of her tenure.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

1975: Graduation and Teaching Career

In 1975, Jill Jacobs graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts in English. In 1975, she began her career as a substitute teacher and then taught high school English full-time.

1987: Master of Arts in English

In 1987, Jill Biden received a Master of Arts in English from Villanova University.

1988: Husband's Presidential Bid

In 1988, during her husband's unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, Jill Biden stated she would continue teaching emotionally disabled children even if she became First Lady.

1993: Instructor at Delaware Technical & Community College

From 1993, Jill Biden was an English instructor at Delaware Technical & Community College until 2008.

1993: Founded Biden Breast Health Initiative

In 1993, Jill Biden founded the Biden Breast Health Initiative, a nonprofit organization providing breast health awareness programs.

January 2007: Doctorate in Education

In January 2007, at age 55, Jill Jacobs-Biden received a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in educational leadership from the University of Delaware.

2007: Helped found Book Buddies

In 2007, Jill Biden helped found Book Buddies, an organization that provides books for low-income children.

2008: Campaigning with Obama

In 2008, after her husband was selected as Barack Obama's running mate, Jill Biden began campaigning, wearing a Blue Star Mothers Club pin in recognition of Beau Biden's deployment to Iraq. During the fall 2008 semester, she continued to teach at Delaware Technical & Community College during the week and campaigned over the weekend, grading papers on the campaign bus.

2008: Supported Presidential Campaign

In 2008, during Joe Biden's unsuccessful campaign to be the Democratic presidential nominee, Jill Biden continued to teach during the week and joined him for campaigning on weekends.

2008: Laura Bush's visit to Afghanistan in 2008

It was the first visit to a war zone by a U.S. first lady without her husband since Laura Bush went to Afghanistan in 2008

2008: End of Instructorship

Jill Biden's time as instructor at Delaware Technical & Community College ended in 2008.

January 2009: Second Lady and Professor

In January 2009, after her husband became Vice President, Jill Biden became the Second Lady of the United States and moved into Number One Observatory Circle. In January 2009, she also began teaching at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), becoming the first Second Lady to hold a paying job while her husband was Vice President.

May 2009: Community College Initiative

In May 2009, Barack Obama announced that Jill Biden would be in charge of an initiative to raise awareness about the value of community colleges.

2009: Served as Second Lady and Professor

In 2009, Jill Biden became the Second Lady of the United States when her husband, Joe Biden, became Vice President. In 2009, she also began working as a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College.

2009: Full-Time Faculty Appointment

In Fall 2009, Jill Biden received a two-year appointment as a full-time faculty member at NOVA, teaching English and writing composition. She maintained a normal presence, sharing a cubicle and holding office hours, while also trying to minimize the visibility of her Secret Service detail.

January 2010: Commencement Speech at University of Delaware

In January 2010, Jill Biden gave the commencement speech at the University of Delaware's winter commencement, the first such address by her at a major university.

August 2010: Appearance on Army Wives

In August 2010, Jill Biden appeared as herself in an episode of Lifetime's "Army Wives" as part of her campaign to raise awareness of military families.

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April 2011: Founded Joining Forces

In April 2011, Jill Biden and Michelle Obama founded a national initiative, Joining Forces, to showcase the needs of U.S. military families.

September 2011: Supported USAID's FWD campaign

In September 2011, Jill Biden lent her support to USAID's FWD campaign, a push for awareness surrounding the deadly famine, war, and drought affecting more than 13 million people in the Horn of Africa.

2011: Permanent Position as Associate Professor

In Fall 2011, Jill Biden was given a permanent position as an associate professor at NOVA, continuing to teach English and writing composition courses. Despite her role as Second Lady, she strived to maintain normalcy, interacting closely with students and managing her Secret Service detail.

February 2012: "Community College to Career" Bus Tour

In February 2012, Jill Biden, as Second Lady, staged a "Community College to Career" bus tour with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to showcase alliances between community colleges and local businesses. Despite her position, she always requested permission from the college to take time off work.

November 6, 2012: Re-election of Obama and Joe Biden

On November 6, 2012, Barack Obama and Joe Biden were re-elected, marking the start of Jill Biden's second term as Second Lady.

2012: Modest Role in 2012 U.S. Presidential Election

In 2012, during her husband's re-election campaign as Vice President, Jill Biden played a modest role, continuing her teaching schedule and making few solo appearances due to her distaste for politics and public speaking. However, the Obama campaign valued her connection to military families, teachers, and women.

January 2013: Start of Second Term as Second Lady

In January 2013, Jill Biden began her second term as Second Lady, continuing her support for military personnel, including visits to rehabilitation facilities.

2014: Campaigning in Midterm Congressional Elections

In 2014, Jill Biden campaigned for several Democratic candidates during the U.S. midterm Congressional elections, including Mark Udall in Colorado and Michelle Nunn in Georgia.

2015: Teaching at NOVA

During the Fall 2015 semester, Jill Biden continued to teach at NOVA, handling a full load of five classes.

February 2017: Launch of Biden Foundation and Chair of Save the Children

In February 2017, Jill Biden and her husband launched the Biden Foundation to pursue causes they cared about, like preventing violence against women and supporting community colleges and military families. That same month, she was named board chair of Save the Children.

May 2017: Keynote Address at Milwaukee Area Technical College

In May 2017, Jill Biden gave the keynote address at a commencement for Milwaukee Area Technical College, emphasizing the importance of education.

July 2017: Keynote Address at California Teachers Summit

In July 2017, Jill Biden gave the keynote address at a California teachers summit, emphasizing the need for communities to support teachers.

2017: End of Second Lady Term

In 2017, Jill Biden's tenure as the Second Lady of the United States came to an end when her husband's term as Vice President concluded.

May 2018: Commencement Address at Bishop State Community College

In May 2018, Jill Biden delivered a commencement address at Bishop State Community College in Alabama, encouraging graduates to believe in their ability to achieve anything despite life's obstacles.

February 2019: Address to Newport News Apprentice School Graduates

In February 2019, Jill Biden spoke to the graduating class of the Newport News Apprentice School, acknowledging their complicated lives and responsibilities while highlighting their mastery of a craft.

March 2019: Enthusiastic Support for Husband's Presidential Run

In March 2019, reports indicated that Jill Biden was enthusiastically in favor of her husband, Joe Biden, running in the 2020 United States presidential election and she was a key participant in his decision-making process.

April 25, 2019: Official Announcement of Joe Biden's 2020 Presidential Campaign

On April 25, 2019, Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign was officially announced and Jill Biden was referred to as Joe Biden's greatest political asset.

May 2019: Publication of Memoir 'Where the Light Enters'

In May 2019, Jill Biden's memoir, Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself, was published. The book focuses on family and her role as "Dr. B.", with minimal political content, and Jill did book signings to promote the work.

Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself

Check it on Amazon

2019: Active Role in Presidential Campaign

During 2019, Jill Biden continued to teach at NOVA and took an active role in her husband's presidential campaign, emphasizing his electability in early contest states and also graded research papers.

June 2020: Publication of Children's Book 'Joey: The Story of Joe Biden'

In June 2020, Jill Biden published the children's book Joey: The Story of Joe Biden, portraying him as brave and adventurous despite being bullied for his stutter.

Joey: The Story of Joe Biden

Check it on Amazon

November 2020: Appointment of Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor

In mid-November 2020, Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón was announced as Jill Biden's chief of staff, and Anthony Bernal was named as her senior advisor.

2020: Cancer Moonshot 2020

During 2016, Jill Biden accompanied her husband on a listening tour for Cancer Moonshot 2020, an effort he was leading.

2020: Joe Biden's decision to run for president

In 2020, Jill Biden played a key role in her husband Joe Biden's decision to run in the United States presidential election.

2020: Role in Vice-Presidential Selection and DNC Speech

In 2020, Jill Biden played a significant role in the selection of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden's running mate. She spoke at the Democratic National Convention from her former classroom, drawing parallels between family and national healing. She also campaigned in Pennsylvania, emphasizing the importance of women's votes.

2020: Leave of Absence from NOVA and Online Teaching Training

In 2020, Jill Biden took a leave of absence from NOVA for the spring semester to campaign full-time for her husband and also received training in online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She intended to resume teaching even if her husband was elected.

2020: Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign

In 2020, Jill Biden was referred to as Joe Biden's greatest political asset during his presidential campaign.

2020: Visiting American Athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games

In July 2021, Jill Biden visited American athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games

January 20, 2021: Inauguration as First Lady

On January 20, 2021, Jill Biden's husband was inaugurated as president. Jill became the first spouse since Barbara Bush to have been both Second Lady and First Lady and the first since Pat Nixon to hold the roles non-consecutively. At 69, she was also the oldest to assume the role of First Lady and the first Italian American First Lady.

June 2021: G7 Summit in Cornwall

In June 2021, Joe and Jill Biden visited Cornwall in the United Kingdom for the 47th G7 summit. Jill Biden and the Duchess of Cambridge visited primary school students and participated in a roundtable discussion focusing on early childhood education. They also co-authored an op-ed that was published by CNN about early childhood care.

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July 2021: Solo Trip to Tokyo

In July 2021, Jill Biden made her first solo trip abroad as First Lady, visiting Tokyo. She met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his wife Mariko Suga, Emperor Naruhito, and American athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. She also attended the Olympics opening ceremony.

September 2021: Return to In-Person Teaching

In September 2021, Jill Biden returned to in-person teaching at NOVA, emphasizing the Biden administration's push to get students and teachers back to physical schools. Security measures for her classes were increased. She retained her reputation as a tough grader.

September 2021: Joining Forces Interagency Policy Committee Launch

In September 2021, the Office of the First Lady joined the U.S. National Security Council in launching the Joining Forces Interagency Policy Committee. The purpose of this committee was to secure proposals across the federal government to support military families.

October 2021: Campaigning for Terry McAuliffe

In October 2021, Jill Biden visited Virginia to deliver "last-minute stump" speeches for the Democratic governor, Terry McAuliffe, in his race against Republican challenger Glenn Youngkin.

October 2021: Visit to Vatican City and Rome

In October 2021, the Bidens visited Vatican City and met with Pope Francis to discuss world poverty and climate change. They also visited Rome for the G20 Leaders' Summit, where Jill Biden met with Serena Cappello, wife of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. Additionally, she visited families of American troops in Naples.

November 2021: Hidden Helpers Coalition Launch

In November 2021, the Joining Forces program joined the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project in launching the Hidden Helpers Coalition. This initiative was designed to create supportive programming for children of wounded, ill, or injured service members or veterans and partnered with 78 organizations.

2021: Became First Lady of the United States

In 2021, Jill Biden became the First Lady of the United States when her husband, Joe Biden, assumed the presidency.

February 2022: Advocacy for Free Community College Tuition

In February 2022, Jill Biden publicly acknowledged that the free community college tuition item had been dropped from the Build Back Better bill during an appearance before the Community College National Legislative Summit. She expressed her disappointment, emphasizing her personal connection to these issues. The Build Back Better Act later became the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, without free tuition for community college.

May 2022: Visit to Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine

In May 2022, Jill Biden traveled to Romania and Slovakia, visiting Ukrainian refugees. She also made an unannounced trip to Uzhhorod, Ukraine, meeting with displaced Ukrainian schoolchildren and Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska. She emphasized the importance of stopping the war and the support of the United States for the Ukrainian people.

October 2022: States Visited as First Lady

By October 2022, Jill Biden had visited 40 U.S. states as first lady, outpacing the number of states that her husband visited during his presidency.

March 2023: Women's History Month Event

In March 2023, Jill Biden hosted a Women's History Month event, calling on men to fight for women's rights and hosted the International Women of Courage Award at the White House.

October 2023: Girls Leading Change Celebration

In October 2023, Jill Biden and the White House Gender Policy Council hosted the first-ever “Girls Leading Change” celebration to recognize young women's impact on their communities.

November 2023: Meeting with Maria Shriver

In November 2023, Jill Biden met with Maria Shriver, a women's health advocate, which led to the development of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research.

February 2024: White House Initiative on Women's Health Research Announcement

In February 2024, Jill Biden announced the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, allocating $100 million in federal funding for research and development into women's health.

October 2024: Unveiling the Upgraded White House Public Tour

In October 2024, Jill Biden unveiled the upgraded White House public tour. The new tour featured digital elements, historical context, insights into the lives of previous presidents and their families, and greater access to the White House rooms that were previously closed to the public. The tour also accommodates blind tourists.

2024: Continued as English Professor

From 2009 to 2024, Jill Biden worked as a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College. She was the first First Lady to hold a salaried job during the majority of her husband's tenure.

April 2025: Chair of Women's Health Network initiative

In April 2025, Jill Biden became the chair of a new Women's Health Network initiative with the Milken Institute, a follow-on to her role in the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research.