Sources
- https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/first-families/jill-tracy-jacobs-biden/
Official White House biography of Jill Biden, providing authoritative details about her early life, education, career, and roles as Second Lady and First Lady. - https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2021/01/20/jill-biden-delaware-roots-shaped-her-educator-and-second-lady/4217545001/
A detailed article from Delaware Online discussing Jill Biden's education at the University of Delaware and her career as an educator, which aligns with the post's claims. - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/20/first-lady-jill-biden-education-military-families/4218421001/
USA Today article covering Jill Biden's advocacy for education and military families, supporting the post's claims about her work with Michelle Obama and military programs. - https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative
National Cancer Institute's page on the Cancer Moonshot Initiative, which corroborates the post's information about Jill Biden's involvement in cancer advocacy. - https://www.villanova.edu/artsci/graduate/english/alumni/jill-biden.html
Villanova University's alumni page for Jill Biden, confirming her Master's degree in English from Villanova, as mentioned in the post.
Key Points
- Jill Tracy Jacobs was born on June 3, 1951, in New Jersey, and raised in Pennsylvania as the oldest of five sisters in a supportive family.
- She earned multiple degrees, including a Bachelor's in English (1975), two Master's degrees (1981, 1993), and a Doctorate in Education (2007) from the University of Delaware.
- Jill began her career as a high school English teacher, later becoming a reading specialist and teaching at a psychiatric hospital before joining North Virginia Community College in 2009.
- She authored several books, including a children's book about military deployment (2012) and a memoir (2019).
- Jill married Joe Biden in 1977 after meeting in 1975; she became a stepmother to his two sons and later had a daughter, Ashley, in 1981.
- Growing up in a military family, Jill advocated for military programs, collaborating with Michelle Obama and visiting bases in 40 countries.
- As Second Lady (2009-2017), she promoted community colleges, female education, and hosted the first White House summit on community colleges.
- After Joe Biden became President, Jill continued her advocacy, focusing on cancer research through the White House Cancer Moonshot initiative.
- She balances her role as First Lady with teaching English, emphasizing education, military support, and female empowerment.
- Jill is recognized for her compassion, intelligence, and dedication to improving education and healthcare in the U.S.
Summary
Jill Biden, born in 1951, is an accomplished educator with multiple degrees, including a Doctorate in Education, and has dedicated her career to teaching English and advocating for education. She married Joe Biden in 1977, becoming a stepmother to his two sons and later having a daughter, Ashley, while actively supporting military families and cancer research initiatives. As First Lady, she continues to champion community colleges, female education, and veteran support, balancing her advocacy work with her role as an English professor.
Early Years
Jill Tracy Jacobs was born in New Jersey on June 3rd, 1951. She was the oldest of five girls raised by parents Donald and Bonny in Pennsylvania. The family was fun, loving, and took part in many school and community activities. Her parents encouraged her and her siblings to find their own path and made education a priority in the household.
Education
Jill graduated from high school with honors in 1969. She selected the University of Delaware to further pursue her education. Her focus was on English, and she completed her Bachelor’s degree with honors in 1975.
She has completed two Master’s degree programs. She completed a Masters in Specialty Education in 1981. In 1993 she completed her second Master’s at Villanova University. It was in Master of Arts with an emphasis on English. She didn’t stop there, however, going on to earn her Doctorate in Education in 2007 from the University of Delaware.
Career
After obtaining a degree in English, her first job was teaching at a high school. After a few years, she became a reading specialist. She was teaching while she continued her education for her Master’s programs.
For several years she taught English at Rockford Center, a psychiatric hospital. That ended when the family relocated to Washington DC. She loves teaching and is an educator at a North Virginia Community College. She started there in 2009.
Jill has written several books. The first was a children’s book released in 2012. It was written from a child’s point of view on when a parent is deployed through the military. In 2019 she wrote a book about her life. A second children’s book was released in 2020.
Marriage to Joe Biden
Jill and Joe met in 1975 when President Biden was a United States senator. The two had similar interests and plenty of passion for improving the education system. The couple was married in a simple but lovely ceremony in 1977.
Joe had previously been married. Sadly, his first wife and a 1-year-old daughter died in a car accident in 1972. His two sons were also in the car but survived. Jill was very affectionate to the boys and proudly became their step-mom when she and Joe married. The couple later had a daughter, Ashley, born in 1981.
Military Advocate
Jill Biden grew up in a military household. Her father was a signalman for the Navy. She worked closely with First Lady Michelle Obama to create programs for the military and their families.
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She has traveled to military bases in 40 countries worldwide to see first-hand the programs in place and what is missing. She also visited refugee camps and worked hard to see positive changes and conditions.
Roles in the White House
Before her husband became President of the United States, he was Vice President. Consequently, Jill had a variety of duties as the Second Lady of the United States from 2009 until 2017. When Joe Biden became President, she was able to step up into the role of First Lady with confidence.
As Second Lady, she advocated for community college programs and the military. She also created programs to encourage education for females around the United States. She hosted the first summit at the White House, focusing on community colleges. Along with President Obama, they formed many partnerships with community colleges and enhanced programs.
The Bidens lost a son to cancer in 2015. Several of their friends have been involved in a battle for their lives due to cancer. While her advocacy for cancer treatment and solutions began in 1993, it became a significant program the couple helped raise awareness for when he was elected President Joe Biden. The White House Cancer Moonshot is a program to help find a cure for all cancer. This is under the umbrella of the Biden Cancer Initiative.
Jill Biden is an educated, independent woman. She credits her parents for making education for their girls a priority. Jill continues to balance being a Professor of English with helping her husband run the country.
She advocates for females and their education, promoting better programs through community colleges, and ensuring military veterans, families, and survivors get their needs met. She is compassionate, intelligent, and doing her part for her country!
