Dr. Jill Biden has stood next to her husband, Joe Biden while he was Vice President of the United States. Come January 20th, she’ll be by his side, poised to be the First Lady of the United States. But her longstanding title, “Dr.,” may be even more telling of the history she is about to make.
“I think her point to be addressed in a factual way, because she is a doctor and a professor, is really showing that she’s aware that women are de-professionalized,” Dr. Jeanine Kraybill, 23ABC political analyst and CSUB professor said. “She wants to elevate the role of professional women and elevate the role of educators.”
Dr. Jill Biden will now be known as First Lady in addition to her other many titles: Former Second Lady, wife, mother and teacher. Dr. Kraybill said she’ll still be all those things in this new role. That’s right. Dr. Biden will be the first, first lady to continue her career during her time in the white house.
“She’ll continue to be inspiring for students: ‘Look at what the first lady can do. She’s here with us, everyday folks, in the trenches, working with faculty. She’s not being treated any differently,” Dr. Kraybill said.
Dr. Jill Biden is the second, Second Lady after Barbara Bush to become the first lady. So with eight years of that experience under her belt, Dr. Kraybill pointed out that the initiatives she led alongside former First Lady Michelle Obama are telling of her future first lady duties.
True to her career as a professor. Dr. Biden may continue her recognition of community colleges as gateways into continued education and quote “gainful employment.”
Other priorities for Dr. Biden as before: breast cancer research and a focus on military families and awareness for post-traumatic stress, “and the sacrifices military families make. The Bidens are a military family, since their son served in the military,” Dr. Kraybill said.
True to her moniker as “Joe’s protector,” Dr. Kraybill said in line with many first ladies before her like Nancy Reagan and Eleanor Rooselvelt, she’ll probably be an advisor to her husband, the president.
After all, she says, Dr. Biden has been on the ground with her husband multiple decades as he served in Congress, as Vice President, and she continued that support on the campaign trail.
“There were times people would come up to the stage and try to hackle Joe Biden, and she pulled him away. I think now you might see a little more secret service do that now, you know?” Dr. Kraybill said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we see her out there. I think she believes in what Joe Biden her husband is about.”
