History of Jill Biden in Timeline

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Jill Biden

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. Prior to this, she served as the Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017 during her husband's vice presidency. A lifelong educator, Biden has taught English at Northern Virginia Community College since 2009, balancing her professional career with her public role.

June 3, 1951: Jill Biden's Birth

On June 3, 1951, Jill Tracy Jacobs, later known as Jill Biden, was born. She would later become an educator and the First Lady of the United States.

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1961: Jacobs family moved to Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

In 1961, the Jacobs family, including Jill Jacobs (later Biden), moved to Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, from Hatboro, Pennsylvania and Mahwah, New Jersey. Her father, Donald Jacobs, became the president and CEO of InterCounty Savings and Loan in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia.

1969: Graduation from Upper Moreland High School

In 1969, Jill Jacobs graduated from Upper Moreland High School. During her time there, she was known for enjoying her social life and being a prankster, but also loved being in English class.

February 1970: Marriage to Bill Stevenson

In February 1970, Jill Stevenson (then Jill Jacobs) married Bill Stevenson, a former college football player.

1974: Separation from Bill Stevenson

In 1974, Jill Stevenson and her husband, Bill Stevenson, drifted apart and separated.

March 1975: Meeting Joe Biden

In March 1975, Jill Jacobs met Senator Joe Biden on a blind date set up by his brother. She was impressed by his manners.

May 1975: Divorce from Bill Stevenson

In May 1975, Jill Jacobs was granted a civil divorce from Bill Stevenson. She unsuccessfully petitioned for a half-share in the Stone Balloon club during the divorce proceedings.

1975: Graduation and Career Beginnings

In 1975, Jill Biden graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware. She began her career as a substitute teacher in Wilmington and then taught high school English full-time at St. Mark's High School in Wilmington. She also spent five months working in Joe Biden's Senate office.

June 17, 1977: Marriage to Joe Biden

On June 17, 1977, Jill Jacobs married Joe Biden at the Chapel at the United Nations in New York City. The wedding was a private affair officiated by a Jesuit priest. Jill became the stepmother to Joe's two sons, Beau and Hunter.

1977: Marriage to Joe Biden

In 1977, Jill Biden married Joe Biden, becoming a stepmother to his sons, Beau and Hunter.

June 8, 1981: Birth of Ashley Blazer Biden

On June 8, 1981, Jill and Joe Biden's daughter, Ashley Blazer Biden, was born. Following Ashley's birth, Jill paused her career for two years to raise her three children.

1981: Birth of Ashley Biden

In 1981, Jill and Joe Biden welcomed their 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: Support During 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 the First Lady.

1991: Comments on Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination

Jill Biden attracted attention by saying "it's time to move on" concerning her husband's role in 1991 regarding Anita Hill and the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination.

1993: Instructor at Delaware Technical & Community College

From 1993, Jill Biden was an English instructor at the Stanton campus of Delaware Technical & Community College. She taught English composition and remedial writing, focusing on building students' confidence. She taught at the college until 2008.

1993: Founded Biden Breast Health Initiative

In 1993, Jill Biden founded the Biden Breast Health Initiative, a nonprofit organization that provides free breast health awareness programs to schools and groups in Delaware.

2004: Opposed 2004 presidential election and urged for 2008 presidential run

In 2004, Jill Biden initially opposed her husband running in the 2004 presidential election due to her opposition to the Iraq War. Following George W. Bush's reelection in 2004, she urged her husband to run for president in 2008.

January 2007: Doctorate in Education

In January 2007, at age 55, Jill Biden received a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in educational leadership from the University of Delaware. Her dissertation, Student Retention at the Community College: Meeting Students' Needs, was published under the name Jill Jacobs-Biden.

2007: Co-founded Book Buddies

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

2008: Campaigning for Vice President

In 2008, after her husband was selected as Barack Obama's running mate, Jill Biden campaigned alongside him. She wore a Blue Star Mothers Club pin in recognition of Beau Biden's deployment to Iraq and continued teaching at Delaware Technical & Community College during the fall semester, grading papers on the campaign bus.

2008: Campaigning for the 2008 election

In 2008, during Joe Biden's unsuccessful campaign to be the Democratic presidential nominee, Jill Biden continued teaching during the week and campaigned on weekends. She said education would be her chief focus as a potential first lady.

2008: End of teaching role at Delaware Technical & Community College

Jill Biden ended her role as an English instructor at the Stanton campus of Delaware Technical & Community College in 2008.

January 2009: Started teaching at Northern Virginia Community College

In January 2009, after becoming the Second Lady of the United States, Jill Biden began teaching English courses at the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) as an adjunct professor. She is believed to have been the first Second Lady to hold a paying job while her husband was Vice President. She was referred to as "Dr. Jill Biden".

May 2009: Obama announced that Biden would be in charge of an initiative to raise awareness about the value of community colleges

In May 2009, President Obama announced that Jill Biden would lead an initiative to raise awareness about the value of community colleges.

2009: Second Lady of the United States

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

2009: Received full-time faculty appointment at NOVA

In Fall 2009, Jill Biden received a two-year appointment as a full-time faculty member at NOVA.

January 2010: Commencement speech at the University of Delaware

In January 2010, Jill Biden gave the commencement speech at the University of Delaware's winter commencement. It was her first such address 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" TV-show, as part of her campaign to raise awareness of military families.

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April 2011: Founded Joining Forces Initiative

In April 2011, Jill Biden and Michelle Obama co-founded Joining Forces, a national initiative to support U.S. military families.

September 2011: Supported USAID's FWD campaign

In September 2011, Jill Biden lent her support to USAID's FWD campaign, which aimed to raise awareness about the famine, war, and drought affecting over 13 million people in the Horn of Africa.

2011: Permanent position as an associate professor at NOVA

In Fall 2011, Jill Biden was given a permanent position as an associate professor at NOVA, teaching three English and writing composition courses two days per week.

February 2012: "Community College to Career" bus tour

In February 2012, Jill Biden and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis staged a "Community College to Career" bus tour to showcase alliances between community colleges and local and regional businesses.

June 2012: Publication of children's book and Ashley Biden's marriage

In June 2012, Jill Biden published her children's book, "Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops", based on her stepson Beau's deployment. In the same month, the Bidens' daughter Ashley married Howard Krein.

Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops
Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops

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 the U.S. presidential election where her husband was running for re-election as vice president, Jill Biden played a modest role by maintaining her teaching schedule and limiting solo campaign appearances due to her distaste for politics and public speaking.

January 2013: Start of Second Term as Second Lady

In January 2013, following the re-election of Obama and her husband, Jill Biden began her second term as Second Lady, continuing her support for military personnel.

2014: Campaigning in the 2014 U.S. Midterm Congressional Elections

During the 2014 U.S. midterm Congressional elections, Jill Biden campaigned for several Democrats, including Mark Udall in Colorado and Michelle Nunn in Georgia.

May 2015: Death of Beau Biden

In May 2015, Jill Biden's stepson, Beau Biden, passed away from brain cancer, which she described as a "totally shattering" loss that deeply impacted her life and faith.

October 21, 2015: Joe Biden Announces He Will Not Run for President

On October 21, 2015, Jill Biden stood by her husband in the Rose Garden as he announced he would not run for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in the 2016 election, a decision she was disappointed by.

2015: Teaching a full load at NOVA in Fall 2015

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

March 2016: Welcoming Scott Kelly Back to Earth

In March 2016, Jill Biden headed the official party that welcomed American astronaut Scott Kelly back to Earth from his almost full year in space.

2016: Belief that Joe Biden would have been the best president

In 2016, Jill Biden believed that her husband was highly qualified and "would have been the best president".

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

In February 2017, Jill and Joe Biden launched the Biden Foundation to focus on preventing violence against women, his moonshot initiative, community colleges, and military families. That same month, Jill 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.

June 2017: Purchase of Vacation Home

In June 2017, Jill and Joe Biden bought a $2.7 million vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, planning to host family gatherings there.

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.

2017: End of Second Lady term

In 2017, Jill Biden's tenure as 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 gave a commencement address at Bishop State Community College in Alabama, encouraging graduates that they can achieve anything.

February 2019: Speech 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.

March 2019: Enthusiastic Support for Joe Biden's Presidential Run

In March 2019, it was reported that Jill Biden was "enthusiastically" in favor of her husband Joe Biden running in the 2020 United States presidential election and 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, the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign was officially announced, with Jill Biden being seen as a significant political asset.

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 politics, and she participated in book signings to promote it.

Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself
Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself

2019: Increased Income and 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.

2019: Finding Faith Again

In 2019, Jill Biden began to find her faith again through interactions with people on the campaign trail, after having lost it following the death of her stepson Beau.

2019: Campaigning and Teaching at NOVA

In 2019, Jill Biden continued to teach at NOVA and emphasized electability in favor of her husband during campaign stops, sometimes accompanied by a granddaughter.

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 her husband as brave and adventurous despite childhood bullying for his stutter.

Joey: The Story of Joe Biden
Joey: The Story of Joe Biden

July 2020: Criticism of Betsy DeVos and Emphasis on Science-Based Education Strategy

In July 2020, Jill Biden spoke out about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, criticized U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos for political motivations, and emphasized the need for a clear, science-based education strategy.

September 2020: Wore Stuart Weitzman's black boots with the word "vote" written on them.

In September 2020, Jill Biden wore Stuart Weitzman's black boots with the word "vote" written on them. The boots she wore was 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, it was announced that Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón would be Jill Biden's chief of staff and Anthony Bernal would be her senior advisor as First Lady.

December 2020: Backlash over Op-Ed Regarding "Dr." Title

In December 2020, an op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal urging Jill Biden to drop the "Dr." from her name because she is not a medical doctor was met with widespread backlash.

2020: Cancer Moonshot 2020 Listening tour

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

2020: Leave of Absence from NOVA and Training in Online Teaching

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

2020: Involvement in Joe Biden's Decision to Run for President

In 2020, Jill Biden was a key participant in Joe Biden's decision-making process to run for president of the United States.

2020: Involvement in Vice-Presidential Selection and Speech at Democratic National Convention

In 2020, Jill Biden was heavily involved in the vice-presidential selection process that led to Kamala Harris being chosen. She spoke at the Democratic National Convention, drawing parallels between family suffering and the plight of the country.

2020: Joe Biden's Greatest Political Asset

In 2020, Town and Country magazine declared that "Jill Biden Might Just Be Joe Biden's Greatest Political Asset".

January 20, 2021: Inauguration as First Lady

On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden was inaugurated as president, making Jill Biden the First Lady of the United States. At 69, she was the oldest first lady to assume the role.

February 13, 2021: Posted photo on Twitter wearing a scrunchie

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. She later said that she did not understand the attention.

March 2021: Press team would not comment on her 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 G7 Summit in Cornwall

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.

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July 2021: Solo Trip to Tokyo

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

September 2021: Return to In-Person Teaching at NOVA

In September 2021, Jill Biden returned to in-person teaching at NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College). This return exemplified the Biden administration's desire to get students and teachers back to physical schools after remote learning. Security for her classes was increased, and she maintained 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. This committee was formed to secure proposals across the federal government aimed at supporting military families, continuing the work of the Joining Forces program.

October 2021: Stump Speeches 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: Ranked 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 in an online survey poll by Zogby Analytics.

October 2021: Visit to Vatican City and Rome

In October 2021, the Bidens visited Vatican City, where they met Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace to discuss world poverty and climate change. In the same month, they visited Rome to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit. Jill Biden met Serena Cappello, wife of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi at Chigi Palace and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron at Il Marchese restaurant. 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, along with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project, launched the Hidden Helpers Coalition. This initiative is designed to create supportive programming for children of wounded, ill, or injured service members or veterans.

2021: First Lady of the United States

In 2021, Jill Biden became the First Lady of the United States upon her husband, Joe Biden, becoming President.

February 2022: Acknowledging the Dropping of Free Community College Tuition

In February 2022, during an appearance before the Community College National Legislative Summit, Jill Biden publicly acknowledged that the free community college tuition item had been dropped from the Build Back Better Act. She expressed her disappointment, emphasizing the importance of these initiatives.

May 2022: Visit to Ukraine and Neighboring Countries

In May 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Jill Biden traveled to Romania and Slovakia, visiting Ukrainian refugees and aid workers. She made an unannounced trip across the Slovakia–Ukraine border to Uzhhorod, Ukraine, where she met with displaced Ukrainian schoolchildren and Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska. Biden stated that the U.S. stands with the people of Ukraine. It was the first visit to a war zone by a U.S. First Lady without her husband since 2008.

July 2022: Claimed Latino Americans were as unique as tacos

At the July 2022 conference of Latino advocacy organization UnidosUS, Jill Biden claimed Latino Americans were as "unique" as tacos and mispronounced the word "bodegas". Her Latino stereotyping caused widespread condemnation, and she later apologized.

July 2022: CNN poll revealed decline in favorability ratings

During June–July 2022, a CNN poll revealed that Jill Biden's favorability ratings had declined compared to the time of her husband's inauguration. The poll also showed that Biden was still more popular among Republicans than both the president and vice president.

July 2022: Expresses Frustration with Administration Challenges

In July 2022, Jill Biden expressed frustration with the challenges her husband's administration faced in addressing various issues.

August 2022: Jill Biden Contracts COVID-19

In August 2022, Jill Biden, who was fully vaccinated and had received two booster shots, contracted COVID-19. She entered isolation protocols to prevent further spread.

October 2022: Visits 40 U.S. States as First Lady

By October 2022, Jill Biden had visited 40 U.S. states as First Lady, outpacing the number of states visited by her husband during his presidency.

January 2023: Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer

In January 2023, Jill Biden underwent Mohs surgery to remove two basal-cell carcinoma lesions from her face and chest.

February 2023: First Lady's Visit to Namibia and Kenya

In February 2023, Jill Biden made her initial visit to Africa as First Lady, traveling to Namibia and Kenya. In Windhoek, she delivered a speech on democracy and women's empowerment. While in Kenya's Kajiado County, she witnessed the effects of the ongoing 2020–2023 Horn of Africa Drought.

March 2023: Hosts Women's History Month Event

In March 2023, Jill Biden hosted a Women's History Month event. During the event, she called on men to step up and fight to protect women's rights, promoting gender equity and equality.

April 2023: Invited Iowa Hawkeyes to White House

In April 2023, Jill Biden extended an invitation to the losing Iowa Hawkeyes, as well as the winning LSU Tigers, to visit the White House after the 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament championship game. Traditionally, only the winners are invited. The remark was walked back by her spokesperson.

April 2023: Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign was announced

The Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign was announced in April 2023. Jill Biden was strongly in favor of him running for office.

May 2023: Traveled more than husband, the vice president, or the second gentleman.

By May 2023, Jill Biden had traveled more than her husband, the vice president, or the second gentleman.

May 2023: Attends Coronation of Charles III

In May 2023, Jill Biden and her step-granddaughter, Finnegan, represented the American government at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla. This made her the first First Lady to ever attend a British coronation.

May 2023: LSU visited the White House

In May 2023, LSU visited the White House after the game's aftermath became tangled in some racially-oriented discussions. Jill Biden and Angel Reese hugged.

June 2023: Attends 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. In the same month, she visited Egypt, Morocco and Portugal to highlight her advocacy for youth empowerment and arts.

July 2023: Visit to Paris for UNESCO

In July 2023, Jill Biden visited Paris to give a speech to mark the official return of the United States to UNESCO.

September 2023: Jill Biden Contracts COVID-19 Again

In September 2023, Jill Biden contracted COVID-19 again, adding to her experience with Rebound Covid.

October 2023: Hosts "Girls Leading Change" Celebration

In October 2023, in honor of the International Day of the Girl Child, Jill Biden, along with the White House Gender Policy Council, hosted the first-ever "Girls Leading Change" celebration to recognize the profound impact young women are having on their communities across the United States.

November 2023: Initiative on Women's Health Research Origins

In November 2023, Jill Biden stated that the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research grew out of a meeting with Maria Shriver, a women's health advocate and former California first lady.

February 2024: Sought to shield her husband from excessively long appearances

By February 2024, the subject of Joe Biden's age and associated frailties was a central topic of news coverage. Jill Biden often sought to shield her husband from excessively long appearances or making impromptu remarks.

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

In February 2024, Jill Biden announced the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, which provides $100 million in federal funding for research and development into women's health. The initiative is led by the First Lady and the White House Gender Policy Council, with funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).

April 2024: Urging President Biden to Call for End to 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 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 of Joe Biden from 2024 United States presidential election was announced

On July 21, 2024, the withdrawal of Joe Biden from the 2024 United States presidential election was announced. Jill Biden had advocated for a sudden announcement on a weekend to preserve his dignity.

October 2024: Led American delegation to inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum

In October 2024, Jill Biden led the American delegation to the inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum as president of Mexico.

October 2024: Unveiling the Upgrade of the White House Public Tour

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

December 2024: Conducted final foreign trip as First Lady

In December 2024, Jill Biden conducted her final foreign trip as First Lady. She visited Italy, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and France, focusing on supporting US military personnel, health initiatives, education, and international cooperation.

January 2025: CNN Poll shows favorability and unfavorability ratings at the end of term as First Lady

As Jill Biden's term as First Lady came to an end in January 2025, a CNN poll showed her with a 33% favorability rating and a 31% unfavorability rating with 35% unsure how they feel about her.

2025: End of First Lady term

In 2025, Jill Biden's term as First Lady of the United States came to an end when her husband's term as President concluded.