Jill Biden to make history as a first lady who retains her job

Jill Biden is no stranger to the glare of the political spotlight. She will, however, be making history in her own right as she will push her role as the first lady into the 21st century by retaining her job as a full-time professor. Her husband has been a Washington insider since they wed in 1977, and she was America's second lady for eight years.

“Most American women have both a work life and a family life, but first ladies have never been allowed to do so,” Katherine Jellison, a history professor at Ohio University told AFP.

“Maybe the time has come, however, when more Americans will feel comfortable with a first lady who isn't on-call at the White House 24/7,” Jellison added.

Joe Biden spoke proudly of his wife as he spoke of her after he was projected as president-elect. "I'm Jill's husband. And I would not be here without her love," Biden said.

"Jill's a military mom, an educator. She's dedicated her life to education, but teaching isn't just what she does. It's who she is. For American educators, this is a great day for you all. You going to have one of your own in the White House. And Jill will make a great first lady. I'm so proud of her," he added.

A full-time English professor at Northern Virginia Community College, Jill is Joe Biden's second wife. The couple got married in 1977. Joe Biden lost his first wife, Neilia and infant daughter in a car accident in 1972. 

The couple has a daughter together— Ashley. Dr Biden earned two Master's degrees while raising her family with Joe Biden. 

Over the years, Jill has developed a comfortable style of speaking while participating in hi-profile events with Michelle Obama, while being the second lady from 2009 to 2016.

She has campaigned tirelessly for her husband during his third race for the White House, headlining smaller events. She will be the first-ever first lady to hold a full-time job in the 231-year-old history of the role. 

“We will surely have a male presidential spouse one day and I don't think anyone would expect him to give up his day job,” Kate Andersen Brower, author of First Women: The Grace & Power of America's Modern First Ladies, told AFP.

Jill, who identifies herself as a 'lifelong educator' told CBS, “I teach a lot of immigrants, and refugees. I love their stories, I love who they are as people, and I love the fact that I can help them on their path to success." Jill also said, as the first lady, she will advocate for free community college tuition, funding for cancer research, and support for military families.