Discover the career path of Michelle Obama, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Michelle Obama is an American attorney, author, and former First Lady of the United States (2009-2017). Married to Barack Obama, the 44th U.S. President, she is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. As First Lady, she championed initiatives focused on health, education, and combating childhood obesity through her 'Let's Move!' campaign. She also advocated for military families and promoted higher education access with 'Reach Higher.' Obama is considered an influential figure and role model, known for her advocacy, style, and public speaking. Post-White House, she released her bestselling memoir, 'Becoming,' and continues to be involved in various philanthropic and public service endeavors.
1988: Graduation from Harvard Law School
In 1988, Michelle Robinson earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School.
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1991: Public Sector Positions
In 1991, Michelle Obama held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as an assistant to the mayor and as the assistant commissioner of planning and development.
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1993: Executive Director at Public Allies
In 1993, Michelle Obama became executive director for the Chicago office of Public Allies.
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1993: Inactive Law License
Since 1993, Michelle Obama has kept her law license on a voluntary inactive status.
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1996: Election to State Senate
In 1996, Barack Obama was elected to the state senate while the family resided on Chicago's South Side.
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1996: Associate Dean at the University of Chicago
In 1996, Michelle Obama served as the associate dean of student services at the University of Chicago.
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2000: Campaigning for Congressional Seat
In 2000, Michelle Obama campaigned during her husband's run for United States House of Representatives.
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2002: Joins University of Chicago Hospitals
In 2002, Michelle Obama began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals as executive director for community affairs.
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May 2005: Vice President at University of Chicago Medical Center
In May 2005, Michelle Obama became vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
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2006: Income Tax Return
According to the couple's 2006 income tax return, Michelle Obama's salary was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals.
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May 14, 2007: Barack Criticized Wal-Mart Labor Policies
On May 14, 2007, Barack Obama criticized Wal-Mart's labor policies at an AFL–CIO forum in Trenton, New Jersey.
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May 2007: Reduced professional responsibilities
In May 2007, Michelle Obama reduced her professional responsibilities by 80 percent to support her husband's presidential campaign.
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2008: Commitment to Family During Campaign
During Barack Obama's 2008 campaign for U.S. President, Michelle Obama committed to being away overnight only once a week to campaign and to be home by the end of the second day for her daughters.
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2008: Reduced Work Hours During Campaign
During the primary campaign of 2008, Michelle Obama cut back to part-time at the University of Chicago Hospitals in order to spend time with her daughters and work for her husband's election, subsequently taking a leave of absence.
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2008: Campaigning for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2008, Michelle Obama actively campaigned for her husband, Barack Obama, during his presidential campaign.
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2008: Kristen Jarvis served as key aide
Michelle Obama's key aide, Spelman College alumna Kristen Jarvis, served from 2008 until 2015, when she left to become chief of staff to the Ford Foundation president Darren Walker.
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May 2009: Commencement Speech at UC Merced
In May 2009, Michelle Obama delivered a commencement speech at UC Merced in California. Her address was well-received, with students praising her relatability and connection to the audience.
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June 5, 2009: Replaced chief of staff
On June 5, 2009, Michelle Obama replaced her then chief of staff, Jackie Norris, with Susan Sher.
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2009: Advocating for policy priorities
In 2009, Michelle Obama advocated for her husband's policy priorities by promoting bills that support it. She hosted a White House reception for women's rights advocates in celebration of the enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
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2009: Became First Lady of the United States
In 2009, Michelle Obama became the First Lady of the United States when Barack Obama assumed the presidency.
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2009: Most Fascinating Person of the Year
In 2009, Michelle Obama was named Barbara Walters's Most Fascinating Person of the year and she outlines her four initiatives as first lady: Let's Move!, Reach Higher, Let Girls Learn, and Joining Forces.
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January 2010: Indication of Possible Campaigning
In January 2010, Michelle Obama indicated that a consensus had not been reached regarding her involvement in campaigning for Democratic candidates in the midterm elections.
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January 2010: First Lady initiative
In January 2010, Michelle Obama undertook her first lead role in an administration-wide initiative, which she named "Let's Move!", to make progress in reversing the 21st-century trend of childhood obesity.
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February 9, 2010: Announced Let's Move!
On February 9, 2010, Michelle Obama announced Let's Move!, and President Barack Obama created the Task Force on Childhood Obesity.
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April 2010: Solo Visit to Mexico
In April 2010, Michelle Obama made her first solo visit to Mexico. During her visit, she spoke to students and encouraged them to take responsibility for their futures, citing her own and her husband's background as examples of potential found in unlikely places.
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October 2010: Campaign Trail Debut
In October 2010, Michelle Obama debuted on the campaign trail in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, touring seven states in two weeks to support Democratic candidates in the midterm elections.
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June 2011: Official Trip to Africa
In June 2011, Michelle Obama traveled to Africa, touring Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Botswana, and meeting with Graça Machel. Her trip included community events and was seen as advancing her husband's foreign policy.
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September 20, 2011: Included openly gay service members
After the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell on September 20, 2011, Michelle Obama included openly gay service members in her national military families initiative.
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April 2012: Awarded for work with homeless veterans
In April 2012, Michelle Obama and her husband were awarded the Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV).
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May 9, 2012: Publicly supported same-sex marriage
On May 9, 2012, Barack and Michelle Obama came out publicly in favor of same-sex marriage. Senior White House officials said Michelle Obama had been one of the most consistent advocates for same-sex marriage in Barack Obama's life.
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2012: Campaigning for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2012, Michelle Obama actively campaigned for her husband, Barack Obama, during his presidential campaign.
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2012: Guest Appearance on iCarly
In 2012, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on iCarly.
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2012: Published American Grown
In 2012, Michelle Obama released the book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America, which promotes healthy eating.
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2012: Michelle Obama's DNC Speech
In 2012, at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama delivered a speech emphasizing Barack Obama's embodiment of the American Dream and his commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all Americans.
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May 2014: Joined #bringbackourgirls campaign
In May 2014, Michelle Obama joined the campaign to bring back school girls who had been kidnapped in Nigeria, tweeting a picture of herself holding a poster with the #bringbackourgirls campaign hashtag.
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2014: Guest Appearance on Parks and Recreation
In 2014, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on Parks and Recreation.
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May 2015: Re-awarded for work with homeless veterans
Michelle Obama was again honored with the award in May 2015, accepting with Jill Biden.
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June 2015: Trip to London and Italian Cities
In June 2015, Michelle Obama undertook a weeklong trip to London and three Italian cities. In London, she discussed international education for girls and met with Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince Harry.
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2015: Kristen Jarvis left
Michelle Obama's key aide, Spelman College alumna Kristen Jarvis, served from 2008 until 2015, when she left to become chief of staff to the Ford Foundation president Darren Walker.
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March 16, 2016: Michelle Obama denies running for office
On March 16, 2016, Michelle Obama denied that she would ever run for the office, citing a desire to "impact as many people as possible in an unbiased way".
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2016: Guest Appearance on NCIS
In 2016, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on NCIS.
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May 2017: Rebuked Trump Administration
In May 2017, Michelle Obama rebuked the Trump administration for delaying a federal requirement aimed at improving nutritional standards for school lunches.
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April 2018: Dismissed Presidential Run Speculation
In April 2018, Michelle Obama addressed rumors of a potential presidential bid, stating that she lacked the "passion for politics."
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November 2018: Becoming Memoir Released
In November 2018, Michelle Obama's memoir, Becoming, was released.
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2018: Publication of 'Becoming'
In 2018, Michelle Obama published her memoir, 'Becoming', which became a New York Times best seller.
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November 2019: Becoming Sales Milestone
By November 2019, Michelle Obama's memoir, Becoming, had sold 11.5 million copies.
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May 6, 2020: "Becoming" Documentary Released on Netflix
On May 6, 2020, a documentary titled "Becoming", which chronicles Michelle Obama's book tour promoting the memoir, was released on Netflix.
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July 2020: The Michelle Obama Podcast Premiered
In July 2020, Michelle Obama premiered a podcast titled The Michelle Obama Podcast.
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2020: Produced Documentary Film Crip Camp
In 2020, Michelle Obama produced the documentary film Crip Camp.
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January 2, 2021: Encouraged Georgia Residents to Vote
On January 2, 2021, Michelle Obama urged Georgia residents to participate in the U.S. Senate runoff election and promoted VoteRiders to help ensure voters had the necessary ID.
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February 2021: Executive Producer of "Waffles + Mochi"
In February 2021, Michelle Obama was announced as an executive producer and presenter on a children's cooking show, Waffles + Mochi.
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March 16, 2021: "Waffles + Mochi" Released by Netflix
On March 16, 2021, the children's cooking show, Waffles + Mochi, executive produced and presented by Michelle Obama, was released by Netflix.
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2021: Moving Toward Retirement
In 2021, Michelle Obama announced that she has been "moving toward retirement".
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July 21, 2022: Next Book Announced
On July 21, 2022, it was announced that Michelle Obama's next book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, would be published in November 2022.
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November 2022: The Light We Carry Book Published
In November 2022, Michelle Obama's book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, was published by Penguin Random House.
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2022: Guest Appearance on Black-ish
In 2022, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on Black-ish.
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2022: Publication of 'The Light We Carry'
In 2022, Michelle Obama published 'The Light We Carry'.
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2023: Produced Biographical Drama Film Rustin
In 2023, Michelle Obama produced the biographical drama film Rustin.
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2023: Emmy Nomination for The Light We Carry
In 2023, Michelle Obama received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special for the Netflix documentary film The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.
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March 2024: Announced No Presidential Run
In March 2024, amid speculation about the presidential candidacy of President Biden, Michelle Obama's office announced that she would not be running for president in the 2024 United States presidential election.
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