Early Life and Education of Michelle Obama: A Complete Timeline

1935: Birth of Fraser Robinson III

In 1935, Fraser Robinson III, Michelle Obama's father, was born. He later worked at a city water plant.

1937: Birth of Marian Shields Robinson

In 1937, Marian Shields Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, was born. She was a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store.

January 17, 1964: Michelle Obama Born

On January 17, 1964, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama was born. She later became an American attorney, author, and First Lady of the United States.

1981: Graduation as Salutatorian

In 1981, Michelle Obama graduated as the salutatorian of her high school class.

1981: Entry to Princeton University

In 1981, Michelle Robinson entered Princeton University.

1983: Brother's Graduation from Princeton

In 1983, Michelle Obama's brother graduated from Princeton. She believed his status as a student in good standing helped her own application.

1985: Graduation from Princeton University

In 1985, Michelle Robinson graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

1988: Graduation from Harvard Law School

In 1988, Michelle Robinson earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School.

1989: First Date

In 1989, Michelle Robinson had her first date with Barack Obama, during which they saw Spike Lee's movie 'Do the Right Thing'.

March 1991: Death of Father

In March 1991, Michelle Robinson's father, Fraser, passed away from complications related to multiple sclerosis.

1991: Death of Fraser Robinson III

In 1991, Fraser Robinson III, Michelle Obama's father, passed away.

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.

October 3, 1992: Marriage to Barack Obama

On October 3, 1992, Michelle Robinson married Barack Obama.

1992: Marriage to Barack Obama

In 1992, Michelle Robinson married Barack Obama.

1993: Executive Director at Public Allies

In 1993, Michelle Obama became executive director for the Chicago office of Public Allies.

1993: Inactive Law License

Since 1993, Michelle Obama has kept her law license on a voluntary inactive status.

1996: Acknowledged Possibility of Political Career

During an interview in 1996, Michelle Obama acknowledged there was a "strong possibility" her husband would begin a political career but was "wary" of the process.

1996: Election to State Senate

In 1996, Barack Obama was elected to the state senate while the family resided on Chicago's South Side.

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.

1998: Birth of Malia Ann Obama

In 1998, Malia Ann Obama, the daughter of Michelle and Barack Obama, was born.

2000: Campaigning for Congressional Seat

In 2000, Michelle Obama campaigned during her husband's run for United States House of Representatives.

2001: Birth of Natasha (Sasha) Obama

In 2001, Natasha (Sasha) Obama, the daughter of Michelle and Barack Obama, was born.

2002: Joins University of Chicago Hospitals

In 2002, Michelle Obama began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals as executive director for community affairs.

2004: Election to U.S. Senate

In 2004, Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate.

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.

2005: Donald Trump's audio recording

On October 13, 2016, Michelle Obama heavily criticized Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for his statements in a 2005 audio recording during a Clinton rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.

May 2006: Essence "Most Inspiring Women"

In May 2006, Essence magazine listed Michelle Obama among "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women", highlighting her ascent in popular culture.

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.

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.

July 2007: Vanity Fair "Best Dressed" List

In July 2007, Vanity Fair listed Michelle Obama among "10 of the World's Best Dressed People", recognizing her emerging fashion influence.

September 2007: The Harvard 100

In September 2007, 02138 magazine listed Michelle Obama 58th of "The Harvard 100", recognizing her influence as a Harvard alumna.

February 2008: Increased campaign participation

In early February 2008, Michelle Obama significantly increased her participation in her husband's presidential campaign, attending thirty-three events in eight days.

May 31, 2008: Withdrawal from Trinity United Church of Christ

On May 31, 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama announced their withdrawal from Trinity United Church of Christ due to divisive statements from Reverend Wright.

July 2008: Repeat Appearance on Vanity Fair Best Dressed List

In July 2008, Michelle Obama made a repeat appearance on the Vanity Fair international best dressed list, solidifying her fashion icon status.

October 6, 2008: Interviews and controversy

On October 6, 2008, Michelle Obama was interviewed by Larry King and Jon Stewart. Also on this day, a Fox News commentator described the fist bump shared by the Obamas as a "terrorist fist jab", leading to controversy.

2008: Image Improvement

By the time of the election cycle, Michelle Obama's public image has improved since 2008, with some commentators considering her as the most popular member of the Obama administration.

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.

2008: Boasted to gay Democratic groups

During the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, Michelle Obama boasted to gay Democratic groups of her husband's record on LGBT rights.

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.

2008: Campaigning for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign

In 2008, Michelle Obama actively campaigned for her husband, Barack Obama, during his presidential campaign.

2008: Delivered speech at Democratic National Convention

In 2008, Michelle Obama delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention, portraying herself and her family as the embodiment of the American Dream. Her keynote address was largely well-received and drew mostly positive reviews, resulting in a favorability of 55% among Americans.

2008: Statement on Having Children

In 2008, Michelle Obama stated in an interview that they did not intend to have any more children.

2008: Softer campaign trail presence

In 2008, media outlets observed that Michelle Obama's presence on the campaign trail had become softer, focusing on empathy and soliciting concerns, also giving interviews to shows such as The View. The change was reflected in her fashion choices, as she wore clothes that were more informal clothes than her earlier designer pieces.

2008: Media Focus on Fashion Sense

In 2008, the media was criticized for focusing more on Michelle Obama's fashion sense than her serious contributions, leading to discussions about her intended focus on issues of concern to military and working families as First Lady.

2008: Voter Turnout Encouragement

In 2014, Michelle Obama encouraged voters to be as "hungry as you were back in 2008" in a video released as part of an effort to encourage voter turnout.

2008: Time's Woman of the Year

In 2020, Michelle Obama was named Time Magazine's Woman of the Year for 2008 as part of a retroactive selection of historically deserving women for years in which a man had been named Person of the Year.

2008: Trump's attempted revival of past comments

In October 2016, Donald Trump attempted to revive past comments Michelle Obama made regarding Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential election.

2008: Improved Image

Michelle Obama was seen as having improved her image since 2008 when her husband first ran for the presidency. Isabel Wilkinson of The Daily Beast said Obama's fashion style changed over the course of the campaign to be sensitive and economical.

March 2009: Vogue Cover Appearance

In March 2009, Michelle Obama appeared on the cover and in a photo spread in Vogue magazine, marking a significant moment in her role as First Lady.

April 1, 2009: Meeting with Queen Elizabeth II

On April 1, 2009, Michelle Obama met with Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace. She embraced the Queen, generating some controversy for being out of protocol.

April 2009: Favorability rating polled since April 2009

After Obama's speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the first lady was found through a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in September to have a 61% favorably rating with registered voters, the highest percentage she had polled since April 2009.

April 2009: First Trip Abroad as First Lady

In April 2009, Michelle Obama made her first trip abroad as First Lady, touring a cancer ward with Sarah Brown, wife of British prime minister Gordon Brown. The trip showcased her "star power".

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.

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.

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.

2009: Move to Washington D.C.

In 2009, after moving to Washington D.C., the Obama family attended several different Protestant churches.

2009: Influence as a Role Model

In 2009, at the time of her husband's election, Michelle Obama's role as a high-profile African-American woman in a stable marriage was anticipated to positively influence the world's view of African Americans.

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.

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.

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.

2010: Fashion Influence and Patronage

In 2010, Michelle Obama's fashion choices, including clothes from various designers and more affordable brands, made her a fashion trendsetter. A study found her patronage to be worth an average of $14 million to a company.

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.

August 2011: Better Homes and Gardens Cover

In August 2011, Michelle Obama became the first woman ever to appear on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and the first person in 48 years, marking a unique achievement as First Lady.

2011: Increased political activity

Beginning in 2011, Michelle Obama became more politically active than she had been since the 2008 election, though avoided discussions about the re-election bid.

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.

2012: Campaigning for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign

In 2012, Michelle Obama actively campaigned for her husband, Barack Obama, during his presidential campaign.

2012: Appealing to female voters

In 2012, Michelle Obama aimed to humanize her husband by relating stories about him, attempting to appeal to female voters in swing states.

2012: Campained for husband's re-election

In 2012, Michelle Obama campaigned for her husband's re-election. She had developed a more open public image and was viewed as the most popular member of the Obama administration.

2012: Guest Appearance on iCarly

In 2012, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on iCarly.

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.

2012: Ancestry Research Findings

In 2012, research based on DNA and other evidence indicated that Michelle Obama's great-great-great-grandmother's son was likely fathered by her master's son.

2012: Voter Turnout Encouragement

In 2014, Michelle Obama encouraged voters to be as "hungry as you were back in 2012" in a video released as part of an effort to encourage voter turnout.

2012: Confidence in debating skills

Prior to the first debate of the election cycle in 2012, Michelle Obama expressed confidence in her husband's debating skills.

August 2013: Attendance at 50th Anniversary of March on Washington

In August 2013, Michelle Obama attended the 50th anniversary ceremony for the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial. Her attire, a dress designed by Tracy Reese, garnered positive attention.

2013: Oscar Presentation

In 2013, during the 85th Academy Awards, Michelle Obama became the first First Lady to announce the winner of an Oscar (Best Picture, which went to Argo), marking a historic moment.

March 2014: Visit to China with Family

In March 2014, Michelle Obama visited China with her daughters and mother. She met with Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and visited cultural sites, a university, and high schools, aiming to symbolize the relationship between the US and Chinese people.

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.

May 2014: High Approval Rating

In May 2014, a CNN poll found Michelle Obama had a 61% favorable approval rating, compared to her husband's 43%, highlighting her popularity during the 2014 midterm elections.

2014: Guest Appearance on Parks and Recreation

In 2014, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on Parks and Recreation.

January 2015: Travel to Saudi Arabia

In January 2015, Michelle Obama traveled to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah. She received some criticism for not covering her head, although she was also defended due to her status as a foreigner.

March 2015: Commemoration of Selma to Montgomery Marches

In March 2015, Michelle Obama traveled to Selma, Alabama, with her family to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches. She joined original marchers, including John Lewis, in crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

May 2015: Speculation about running for president

In May 2015, a Rasmussen poll found Michelle Obama had 22% of support to Hillary Clinton's 56% of winning the Democratic nomination.

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.

July 2015: Visit to Coachella Valley

In July 2015, Michelle Obama visited Coachella Valley during a trip to Los Angeles for the Special Olympics World Games.

October 2015: Visit to Fort Belvoir with Jill Biden and Prince Harry

In October 2015, Michelle Obama, alongside Jill Biden and Prince Harry, visited a military base in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to raise awareness for programs supporting harmed service members.

December 2015: Visit to San Bernardino After Terrorist Attack

In December 2015, Michelle Obama traveled with her husband to San Bernardino, California, to meet with families of the victims of a terrorist attack that occurred two weeks earlier.

January 14, 2016: President Obama denies Michelle will run

On January 14, 2016, President Obama stated that Michelle Obama would not run for president.

March 2016: Travel to Cuba with Family

In March 2016, Michelle Obama accompanied her husband and children to Cuba, a trip viewed as potentially impacting relations between Cuba and America. Later that month, they traveled to Argentina.

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".

October 13, 2016: Criticism of Donald Trump

On October 13, 2016, Michelle Obama heavily criticized Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for his statements in a 2005 audio recording during a Clinton rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.

December 2016: Final Vogue Cover as First Lady

In December 2016, Michelle Obama appeared on the cover of Vogue for the final time as First Lady, with photographs by Annie Leibovitz, solidifying her fashion influence.

2016: Guest Appearance on NCIS

In 2016, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on NCIS.

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.

2017: End of First Lady Term

In 2017, Michelle Obama's tenure as First Lady of the United States concluded, marking the end of Barack Obama's presidency.

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."

2018: Publication of 'Becoming'

In 2018, Michelle Obama published her memoir, 'Becoming', which became a New York Times best seller.

2018: Most Admired Woman

In 2018, Michelle Obama topped the Gallup poll asking who is the "most admired woman" in the U.S.

2019: Most Admired Woman

In 2019, Michelle Obama topped the Gallup poll asking who is the "most admired woman" in the U.S.

2020: Most Admired Woman

In 2020, Michelle Obama topped the Gallup poll asking who is the "most admired woman" in the U.S.

2020: Time's Woman of the Year for 2008

In 2020, Michelle Obama was named Time Magazine's Woman of the Year for 2008 as part of a retroactive selection of historically deserving women for years in which a man had been named Person of the Year.

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.

January 20, 2021: Attended Inauguration of Joe Biden

On January 20, 2021, Michelle Obama and her husband, Barack Obama, attended the inauguration of Joe Biden. She wore a plum outfit designed by Sergio Hudson.

September 11, 2021: Attended 9/11 Memorial

On September 11, 2021, Michelle and Barack Obama attended a 9/11 memorial to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the attacks.

2021: Moving Toward Retirement

In 2021, Michelle Obama announced that she has been "moving toward retirement".

2022: Guest Appearance on Black-ish

In 2022, Michelle Obama made a guest appearance on Black-ish.

2022: Publication of 'The Light We Carry'

In 2022, Michelle Obama published 'The Light We Carry'.

April 28, 2023: Performed with Bruce Springsteen in Barcelona

On April 28, 2023, Michelle Obama, alongside Kate Capshaw, joined Bruce Springsteen onstage in Barcelona, providing backing vocals and tambourine for "Glory Days".

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.

July 2, 2024: Public Opinion Poll Results Released

On July 2, 2024, a Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that Michelle Obama was the only listed Democrat option who would defeat Trump in a confrontation, with 50% of the votes for Obama versus 39% for Trump.

August 20, 2024: Addressed Democratic National Convention

On August 20, 2024, Michelle Obama delivered a speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and introduced Barack Obama. The New York Times described her speech as "electrifying".

2024: Death of Marian Robinson

In 2024, Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, passed away.