Michelle Obama

Michelle Robinson Obama served as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

Michelle’s journey began on the South Side of Chicago, where Fraser and Marian Robinson instilled in their daughter a heartfelt commitment to family, hard work, and education.

A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Michelle returned to Chicago to join the firm of Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband Barack Obama. She later worked in the Chicago mayor’s office, at the University of Chicago, and at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Mrs. Obama also founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program that prepares young people for public service.

As First Lady, Mrs. Obama led initiatives that included Let’s Move!, a program aiming to end childhood obesity, and Reach Higher, which helped students access and train for new job opportunities.

She championed the education of girls and women around the world, and that work continues today at the Obama Foundation through the Girls Opportunity Alliance. The Alliance supports global grassroots organizations that are working to make sure girls can get the education they deserve.