It's Doctor Jill Biden, To You! All About the Teacher Who Won President Joe Biden's Heart—And Ours!
A doctor will, indeed, be in the White House starting Jan. 20, 2021!Dr. Jill Bidenwill be the first first lady to hold down a job during her term, just as she was the first second lady to do the same. The education advocate will be at Joe Biden's side for Inauguration Day and throughout his term as President of the United States.
What can we expect from Dr. Biden as first lady? Much of the same as we got from her between 2008 and 2016, which is to say quite a bit.
"The beauty of it is that you can define it however you want. And that’s what I did as second lady—I defined that role the way I wanted it to be," she told Vogue. "I would still work on all the same issues. Education would be right up there—and military families. I’d travel all over this country trying to get free community college. We need good reading programs, and we need equity in schools. We’re competing in this global market, and the U.S.’s standing has got to get better."
Preach, Doc! Get to know more about our future first lady.
Where is Dr. Jill Biden from?
Dr. Jill Biden was born in Hammonton, New Jersey. She grew up in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
Related: Jill Biden Reflects on a Life Fueled by Ambition, Education and Family
What is Dr. Jill Biden's family like?
Born Jill Tracy Jacobs, Dr. Biden is the oldest of five sisters. Her father, Donald, was a banker, and her mother, Bonny, was a fulltime stay-at-home mom.
Who is Dr. Jill Biden's ex-husband?
Dr. Jill Biden was previously married to Bill Stevenson. They tied the knot in 1970 when they were quite young and made the decision to attend the University of Delaware together. Like many high school sweethearts, they realized in college that they weren't a great match and divorced in 1975.
How tall is Dr. Jill Biden?
OK if we're getting into very specific detail, Dr. Jill Biden is 5'9".
How old is Dr. Jill Biden?
Born June 3, 1951, Dr. Jill Biden is 69 years old.
How did Dr. Jill Biden meet Joe Biden?
Three years after Joe Biden's college sweetheart and first wife Neilia Biden died in a car accident, he met Jill on a blind date that his brother Frank arranged. Jill didn't have high hopes at first. She told Vogue, "I was a senior [in college], and I had been dating guys in jeans and clogs and T-shirts. He came to the door and he had a sport coat and loafers, and I thought, 'God, this is never going to work, not in a million years.' He was nine years older than I am!"
Related: Who's Performing at the Inauguration 2021?
She said they went to see the movie A Man and a Woman and "really hit it off."
"When we came home...he shook my hand good night," she recalled. "I went upstairs and called my mother at 1:00 a.m. and said, 'Mom, I finally met a gentleman.'"
When did Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden get married?
Joe and Dr. Jill Biden tied the knot June 17, 1977. His sons Hunter and Beau Biden stood at the altar with the couple. It took a while to get there, though: Jill told Vogue that Joe proposed five times before she said yes because she wanted to be sure that his sons would not "lose another mother" if things ended up not working out.
Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden's kids
Joe and Dr. Jill Biden share biological daughter Ashley, born in 1981; Jill equally recognizes Hunter and Beau as her sons.
What is Dr. Jill Biden's job?
Dr. Jill Biden is an educator. She taught at Brandywine High School in Wilmington, Delaware, from 1991 to 1993. In 1993, she began teaching English at Delaware Technical and Community College until 2009, when she became an English professor at Northern Virginia Community College.
Related: First Dogs! Everything You Need to Know About Joe Biden’s Dogs, Champ and Major
Where did Dr. Jill Biden go to college?
Dr. Biden attended the University of Delaware for her Bachelor's degree. She got her Master's in education at West Chester University in 1981, a Master's in English from Villanova University in 1987 and her doctorate in education from University of Delaware in 2007.
What kind of doctor is Jill Biden?
Dr. Jill Biden has a doctorate in education. This is a valid title, but one particular opinion writer in the Wall Street Journalin late 2020 felt that since she isn't a medical doctor, she shouldn't use her "Dr." title. That infuriated many, and Dr. Biden herself said it upset her.
Dr. Biden later said of the editorial on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, "That was such a surprise. It was really the tone of it...He called me 'kiddo.' One of the things that I'm most proud of is my doctorate. I mean, I worked so hard for it!" She added, "But look at all the people who came out in support of me! I am so grateful and I was just overwhelmed by how gracious people were."
Did Dr. Jill Biden support Joe Biden's presidential run?
Dr. Biden spoke from her old classroom at the virtual Democratic National Convention in support for Joe Biden's presidential run.
Dr. Biden isn't just one of Jo's biggest advocates, she could also serve as his own security detail. Check her out pushing away anti-dairy protestors at a rally:
We would not want to mess with her!
What are Dr. Jill Biden's hobbies?
Dr. Jill Biden loves fitness, especially running and often runs five miles each day.
She is also an avid prankster: Reutersreported that during the 2008 campaign, she once left a plastic rat on Joe's podium at a rally, then put the same rat on his pillow that night.
What causes does Dr. Jill Biden support?
Dr. Jill Biden spearheaded the Biden Breast Health Initiative in 1993 after four of her friends were diagnosed with breast cancer; the organization shuttered in 2019. In April 2011, she worked alongside then-first lady Michelle Obamaon the Joining Forces campaign to aid veterans. She became the honorary chair of the College Promise Advisory Board in 2015 and launched the Biden Foundation two years later. The Biden Foundation ceased operations when Joe announced he was running for president.
Has Dr. Jill Biden written any books?
Dr. Jill Biden is the author of two children's books:
Next, get all the details on how Vice President Kamala Harris will change history forever!
