Early Life and Education of Jill Biden: A Complete Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Jill Biden. From birth to education, explore key events.
Jill Biden is an American educator and served as the First Lady of the United States (2021-2025) as the wife of President Joe Biden. Previously, she was the Second Lady during her husband's vice presidency (2009-2017). Notably, she maintained her career as a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College throughout her time as First Lady. She was the first First Lady to hold a salaried job during the majority of her husband's tenure and the first to carry on with her professional career outside the White House for the majority of her tenure as first lady.
June 3, 1951: Jill Biden's Birth
On June 3, 1951, Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden (née Jacobs, later Stevenson) was born.
1961: Family Moved to Willow Grove, PA
In 1961, the Jacobs family moved to Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, where Jill's father became the president and CEO of InterCounty Savings and Loan.
1969: Graduation from Upper Moreland High School
In 1969, Jill Jacobs graduated from Upper Moreland High School.
February 1970: Marriage to Bill Stevenson
In February 1970, Jill Stevenson (then Jill Jacobs) married Bill Stevenson.
1974: Separation from Bill Stevenson
In 1974, Jill Stevenson and Bill Stevenson drifted apart and separated.
March 1975: Met Joe Biden
In March 1975, Jill Jacobs met Senator Joe Biden on a blind date.
May 1975: Divorce Granted
In May 1975, Jill Jacobs' divorce from Bill Stevenson was granted.
1975: Graduation and Teaching Career
In 1975, Jill Jacobs graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware and began her career as a substitute teacher.
June 17, 1977: Marriage to Joe Biden
On June 17, 1977, Jill Jacobs and Joe Biden were married at the Chapel at the United Nations in New York City.
1977: Marriage to Joe Biden
In 1977, Jill Jacobs married Joe Biden, a widower, becoming the stepmother of Beau and Hunter Biden.
June 8, 1981: Birth of Ashley Biden
On June 8, 1981, Jill and Joe Biden's daughter, Ashley Blazer Biden, was born.
1981: Birth of Ashley Biden
In 1981, Jill and Joe Biden had a daughter, Ashley Biden.
1987: Master of Arts in English
In 1987, Jill Biden received her second graduate degree, a Master of Arts in English from Villanova University.
1988: Continued Teaching During Campaign
During Joe Biden's unsuccessful bid for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination, Jill Biden continued her job of teaching emotionally disabled children.
1993: Instructor at Delaware Technical & Community College
From 1993, Jill Biden was an instructor in English at the Stanton campus of Delaware Technical & Community College.
1993: Founded Biden Breast Health Initiative
In 1993, Jill Biden founded the Biden Breast Health Initiative, a non-profit organization providing breast health awareness programs.
2004: Opposed Joe Biden running for president initially
In 2004, Jill Biden initially opposed her husband running in the presidential election due to her opposition to the Iraq War.
January 2007: Received Doctor of Education
In January 2007, at age 55, Jill Biden received a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in educational leadership from the University of Delaware.
2007: Co-founded Book Buddies
In 2007, Jill Biden helped found Book Buddies, which provides books for low-income children.
2008: Continued Teaching During Campaign
During Joe Biden's unsuccessful campaign to be the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee, Jill Biden continued to teach during the week and would join him for campaigning on weekends.
2008: End of Instruction at Delaware Technical & Community College
In 2008, Jill Biden ended her role as an instructor in English at the Stanton campus of Delaware Technical & Community College.
2008: Campaigning for Vice Presidency
In 2008, after her husband was selected as Barack Obama's running mate, Jill Biden began campaigning for the vice presidency.
2008: Laura Bush Visits Afghanistan
Laura Bush visited Afghanistan in 2008, and 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.
January 2009: Began Teaching at Northern Virginia Community College
In January 2009, Jill Biden began teaching English courses at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) as an adjunct professor, becoming the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband was vice president.
2009: Appointment as Full-Time Faculty at NOVA
In Fall 2009, Jill Biden received a two-year appointment as a full-time faculty member at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). She maintained a normal presence, sharing a cubicle, holding office hours, and teaching English and writing composition courses two days a week, while also trying to keep her Secret Service detail unobtrusive.
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.
April 2011: Founded Joining Forces Initiative
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, promoting awareness of the famine, war, and drought affecting people in the Horn of Africa.
2011: Permanent Position as Associate Professor at NOVA
In Fall 2011, Jill Biden was granted a permanent position as an associate professor at NOVA. Despite her high-profile role as Second Lady, she continued teaching three English and writing composition courses two days per week, trying to maintain a normal campus presence.
June 2012: Publication of "Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops" and Daughter's Wedding
In June 2012, Jill Biden published her children's book, "Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops", based on her stepson Beau's deployment. Also in June 2012, the Bidens' daughter Ashley married Howard Krein.
November 6, 2012: Re-election of Obama and 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.
January 2013: Start of Second Term as Second Lady
In January 2013, Jill Biden began her second term as Second Lady, continuing her involvement in supporting military personnel and families.
May 2015: Death of Step-son Beau Biden
In May 2015, Jill Biden's stepson, Beau Biden, passed away due to brain cancer. She described this loss as "totally shattering" and mentioned that she lost her faith for four years following his death.
October 21, 2015: Husband's Announcement Not to Run for President
On October 21, 2015, Jill Biden stood beside her husband in the Rose Garden as he announced he would not be running for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in the 2016 election. She was disappointed by this decision.
2015: Teaching at NOVA in the Fall
In the Fall of 2015, Jill Biden continued to teach at NOVA, handling a full load of five classes.
March 2016: Welcoming Scott Kelly Back to Earth
In March 2016, Jill Biden led the official party that welcomed American astronaut Scott Kelly back to Earth after his near year-long space mission.
2016: Husband Will Not Run for President
In 2016, Jill Biden's husband did not run for president, a decision that disappointed her.
May 2017: Keynote Address at Milwaukee Area Technical College Commencement
In May 2017, Jill Biden delivered the keynote address at a commencement for Milwaukee Area Technical College.
June 2017: Purchase of Vacation Home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
In June 2017, Jill and Joe Biden purchased a $2.7 million vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. This was made possible in part by book deals with Flatiron Books.
July 2017: Keynote Address at California Teachers Summit
In July 2017, Jill Biden gave the keynote address at a California teachers summit, emphasizing the importance of communities supporting their teachers.
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.
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 life situations and responsibilities.
May 2019: Publication of Memoir "Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself"
In May 2019, Jill Biden's memoir, "Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself" was published, focusing on family aspects rather than political content. She also did book signings to promote the work.
2019: Reported Income and Increased Charitable Giving
By 2019, Jill and Joe Biden reported approximately $15 million in income since leaving the vice presidency, including $700,000 from Jill's speaking engagements. They also substantially increased their charitable giving during this period.
2019: Rediscovery of Faith
In 2019, Jill Biden began to find faith again as a result of campaign trail interactions with people, after losing it following the death of her stepson, Beau Biden, in 2015.
2019: Continued Teaching and Campaign Appearances
Throughout 2019, Jill Biden continued to teach at NOVA and made campaign appearances, emphasizing the electability argument in favor of her husband.
June 2020: Publication of "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 a brave and adventurous child despite having a stutter.
September 2020: Wore Stuart Weitzman's black boots
In September 2020, Jill Biden wore Stuart Weitzman's black boots with the word "vote" written on them. The boots sold out immediately and page views for the boots spiked five-fold the next day.
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 her senior advisor.
December 2020: Op-ed Controversy
In December 2020, an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal by Joseph Epstein suggested that Jill Biden drop the "Dr." title, sparking backlash. Also, Melania Trump did not invite Jill Biden to the White House for tea and a tour, breaking tradition.
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 and trained in online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She intended to resume teaching even if her husband was elected.
2020: Role in Vice-Presidential Selection and DNC Speech
In 2020, Jill Biden was heavily involved in the selection of Kamala Harris as the vice-presidential nominee. She spoke at the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention, drawing parallels between family suffering and the nation's plight. During the general election, she campaigned in Pennsylvania, emphasizing the importance of women voting.
2020: 2020 Summer Olympic Games
In July 2021, Jill Biden visited American athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games and attended the Olympics opening ceremony.
January 20, 2021: Husband's Inauguration
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 those roles non-consecutively. At 69, she was the oldest first lady to assume the position and the first Italian American first lady.
February 13, 2021: Posted photo on Twitter
On February 13, 2021, Jill Biden posted a photo on Twitter of her shopping for cupcakes in Washington, D.C. while wearing a scrunchie, which went viral.
March 2021: Press team would not comment on clothes
In March 2021, Jill Biden's spokesperson stated that the first lady's press team would not comment on her clothes.
June 2021: Attends the 47th G7 summit
In June 2021, Joe and Jill Biden visited Cornwall in the United Kingdom to attend 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. The pair also penned an op-ed that was published by CNN about early childhood care.
July 2021: First Solo Trip Abroad as First Lady
In July 2021, Jill Biden made her first solo trip abroad as the first lady, visiting Tokyo. She met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his wife, Mariko Suga, and Emperor Naruhito. She also visited American athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games and attended the Olympics opening ceremony.
September 2021: Return to In-Person Teaching
In September 2021, Jill Biden returned to in-person teaching at NOVA, highlighting the Biden administration's emphasis on returning students and teachers to physical schools. She remarked, "Thank God we all got off Zoom". Security was increased for her classes.
September 2021: Joining Forces Interagency Policy Committee Launched
In September 2021, the Office of the First Lady joined the U.S. National Security Council in launching the Joining Forces Interagency Policy Committee to secure proposals across the federal government to support military families.
October 2021: Campaign Speech 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 Glenn Youngkin.
October 2021: Seventh most popular first lady in Zogby Analytics poll
In October 2021, Jill Biden was ranked as the seventh most popular first lady out of twelve recent first ladies, according to an online survey poll conducted by Zogby Analytics.
October 2021: Visit to Vatican City and Rome
In October 2021, the Bidens visited Vatican City, where they met with Pope Francis to discuss world poverty and climate change. In the same month, the couple visited Rome to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit. Jill Biden met with Serena Cappello, wife of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. She also visited the families of American troops in Naples.
November 2021: Joining Forces Launches Hidden Helpers Coalition
In November 2021, the Joining Forces program joined the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project in launching Hidden Helpers Coalition, an initiative designed to create supportive programming for 2.3 million children of wounded, ill, or injured service members or veterans.
May 2022: Visits Ukraine and Meets Olena Zelenska
In May 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Jill Biden visited Romania and Slovakia to meet with Ukrainian refugees. She made an unannounced trip to Uzhhorod, Ukraine, and met with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska. Biden stated the visit was to show the Ukrainian people that the United States stands with them.
July 2022: Latino Americans Claim
At the July 2022 conference of Latino advocacy organization UnidosUS, Jill Biden claimed Latino Americans were as "unique" as tacos, and also mispronounced the word "bodegas." This Latino stereotyping caused widespread condemnation. She later apologized.
July 2022: Favorability ratings decline
During the first year and a half of being first lady, a CNN poll revealed that Jill Biden's favorability ratings had declined; compared to 34 percent favorable to 29 percent unfavorable during June–July 2022.
July 2022: Expresses Frustration with Administration's Challenges
In July 2022, Jill Biden expressed frustration with the challenges her husband has faced as his administration has sought to address a range of issues.
August 2022: Contracts COVID-19
In August 2022, Jill Biden, who was fully vaccinated with two booster shots, contracted COVID-19 and went into isolation protocols.
October 2022: States Visited as First Lady
By October 2022, Jill Biden had visited 40 U.S. states as first lady, exceeding the number of states her husband visited during his presidency.
January 2023: Undergoes Mohs Surgery
In January 2023, Jill Biden underwent Mohs surgery to remove two basal-cell carcinoma lesions from her face and chest.
February 2023: First lady visit to Namibia and Kenya
In February 2023, Jill Biden made her first visit to Africa as First Lady, traveling to Namibia and Kenya. While in Windhoek, Namibia, she gave a speech on democracy and women's empowerment. In Kajiado County, Kenya, she observed the effects of the 2020–2023 Horn of Africa Drought.
March 2023: Women's History Month Event
In March 2023, Jill Biden hosted a Women's History Month event calling on men to step up and protect women's rights. She also hosted the International Women of Courage Award ceremony.
April 2023: Invitation to Iowa Hawkeyes
In April 2023, Jill Biden committed an "unforced error" by extending an invitation to the losing Iowa Hawkeyes to the White House after the 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament championship game, which is traditionally only extended to the winners. The offer was later rescinded.
April 2023: Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign announced
In April 2023, the Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign was announced, Jill Biden was strongly in favor of him running for re-election.
May 2023: Traveled more than the Vice President or Second Gentleman
By May 2023, Jill Biden had traveled more than her husband, the Vice President, or the Second Gentleman, highlighting her active role and engagement in various events and initiatives.
May 2023: Attended coronation of Charles III and Camilla
In May 2023, Jill Biden, along with her step-granddaughter Finnegan, represented the American government at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla. This marked the first time a First Lady attended a British coronation.
May 2023: LSU visit to the White House
In May 2023, LSU visited the White House after Jill Biden's remark in April 2023 about also inviting Iowa caused some racially-oriented discussions regarding the differing treatments given trash-talking behavior by the two teams' top players, LSU's Angel Reese and Iowa's Caitlin Clark. Reese initially took offense at Biden's remark, but the two hugged when the LSU visit to the White House took place.
June 2023: Attended wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan
In June 2023, Jill Biden and her daughter Ashley attended the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al Saif. Also in June 2023, she visited Egypt, Morocco and Portugal to highlight her advocacy for youth empowerment and arts.
July 2023: Speech at UNESCO in Paris
In July 2023, Jill Biden visited Paris to deliver a speech marking the official return of the United States to UNESCO.
September 2023: Contracts COVID-19 Again
In September 2023, Jill Biden contracted COVID-19 again.
October 2023: Girls Leading Change Celebration
In October 2023, Jill Biden, along with the White House Gender Policy Council, hosted the first-ever “Girls Leading Change” celebration to recognize the impact young women are having 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 White House Initiative on Women's Health Research.
February 2024: Jill Biden often sought to shield her husband
By February 2024, reports indicated that Jill Biden often sought to shield her husband from excessively long appearances or making impromptu remarks, as Joe Biden's age and associated frailties became a central topic of news coverage.
February 2024: White House Initiative on Women's Health Research Announced
In February 2024, Jill Biden announced the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, a $100 million federal funding project led by the first lady and the White House Gender Policy Council.
April 2024: Urging Biden to End Gaza War
In April 2024, it was reported that Jill Biden had been urging President Biden to call for an end to the Gaza war, lamenting the high civilian death toll.
July 2024: Led American delegation at 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris
In July 2024, Jill Biden led the American delegation at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. She also visited American athletes at an Olympic training center in Paris.
July 21, 2024: Withdrawal from the 2024 United States presidential election
On July 21, 2024, the withdrawal of Joe Biden from the 2024 United States presidential election was announced, a decision that Jill Biden had advocated for to preserve his dignity. She subsequently publicly thanked her husband's supporters and urged them to work for the candidate he had endorsed, Vice President Kamala Harris.
October 2024: Led American delegation to inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum
In October 2024, Jill Biden headed the American delegation to attend the inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum as president of Mexico.
October 2024: White House Public Tour Upgrade Unveiled
In October 2024, Jill Biden unveiled the upgraded White House public tour, featuring digital elements, historical context, and insights into past presidents and their families, after a two-year, $5 million revamp.
November 2024: Vice President Harris lost the election
In November 2024, Vice President Harris went on to lose the election, setting up a return to power of the previous administration.
December 2024: Finished final class at Northern Virginia Community College
In December 2024, Jill Biden announced that she had finished the semester and had "taught ... my final class ever at Northern Virginia Community College."
December 2024: Final foreign trip as first lady
In December 2024, Jill Biden made her final foreign trip as First Lady, visiting Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and France. In Italy, she visited US military personnel and her family's ancestral hometown. In the UAE, she toured the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and attended the Milken Institute's Middle East and Africa Summit. In Qatar, she visited educational and health institutions and attended a dinner banquet at Al-Wajba Palace. After Qatar, she and her daughter Ashley attended the reopening ceremony of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
2024: The Bidens returned to Delaware
In 2024, the Bidens returned to Delaware. The presidential loss in 2024 had come amid a series of defeats for Democrats at multiple electoral levels and vote-share declines in many demographics, and occasioned considerable soul-searching about what had gone wrong.
2024: Feelings around the end of her husband's reelection campaign
Jill Biden's book View from the East Wing: A Memoir is scheduled for publication in June 2026 by Gallery Books. In it, she intends to fully discuss for the first time her feelings around the end of her husband's reelection campaign in 2024.
January 2025: CNN poll shows favorability rating
As Jill Biden's time as First Lady came to an end in January 2025, a CNN poll showed her with a 33 percent favorability rating and a 31 percent unfavorability rating with 35 percent unsure how they feel about her.
April 2025: Chair of Women's Health Network initiative
In April 2025, it was announced that Jill Biden was taking on the position of chair of a new Women's Health Network initiative with the Milken Institute.
May 2025: Accusation of "elder abuse"
In May 2025, Leo Terrell suggested that Jill Biden should face criminal charges for "elder abuse." He argued that she was aware of President Joe Biden’s health issues yet remained silent during his reelection campaign.
June 2026: Publication of memoir
Jill Biden's book "View from the East Wing: A Memoir" is scheduled for publication in June 2026 by Gallery Books. The memoir intends to discuss her feelings around the end of her husband's reelection campaign in 2024.
2026: Stevenson Subject of National Attention
In 2026, Bill Stevenson would become the subject of national attention after being charged with murdering his wife, Linda Stevenson.
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