ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The community college campus where Dr. Jill Biden teaches is just nine miles southwest of the White House.
But it is one of the very few places in the Washington DC area where the rapidly unraveling crisis surrounding President Biden’s re-election is not one of the hot topics – more than 15 students interviewed by The Post this week had not heard of it.
Some students who know “Dr. B,” as she is called by many at the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) campus, did not even realize she is the First Lady – and married to the president.
Some of the students at North Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus where Dr. Jill Biden teaches English interviewed this week by The Post did not necessarily know she was married to the President or about the crisis swirling around the First Couple. Here, Dr. Biden is seen addressing her students at the school. Courtesy NOVA Community CollegeDr. Jill Biden on the job at Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus. Courtesy NOVA Community College
Most staffers and administrators The Post spoke to declined comment, saying they had been told by NOVA brass not to talk to reporters. Only one staffer, who did not give his name, spoke out about Jill, who has taught English at the college since 2009.
Advertisement
“You know she swans in here with her entourage a couple of times a week and makes everyone call her ‘Doctor,’ he said, referring to the secret service agents who accompany her.
“I don’t know her personally but it’s a little bit of a joke. Most teachers here don’t insist on being called Dr.”
First Lady Jill Biden has famously been “Dr.” Jill Biden since 2007, when she was awarded her doctorate in education, or Ed.D., from the University of Delaware.
Her dissertation was on community colleges, titled “Student retention at the community college: meeting students’ needs.”
“I stay out of politics and I don’t watch the news,” a 20-year-old Afghani student who was almost fully veiled told The Post as she walked down one of the paved walkways to the campus store. “I know Dr. B. I almost took her class.”
Advertisement
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pictured on June 29. Jill is referred to as “Dr.B” on campus AFP via Getty Images
Others who do know Jill Biden is also FLOTUS did not know there was a controversy over her 81-year-old husband’s cognitive abilities and whether or not he would be capable of governing for the next four years, after his disastrous debate against Donald Trump last week.
“What, he might have dementia?” said one of two young, American-born male students leaving campus for the day when approached by a Post reporter and asked about the controversy over the president. “I feel so bad for him. Is that really true? That’s so sad. I heard about the debate, but not this.”
Two American-born students playing ping-pong outside the student center, just across from the building housing Jill Biden’s classroom, said they were first-year students but did not know the first lady taught at the school.
Only one student, Chris Bladen, agreed his name could be used and he said he didn’t want to say anything bad about Jill Biden or her husband “because I might be the biggest Trump-hater in the world. I just wish we had better candidates.”
In fairness, as Jill Biden herself indicated to Vogue this month, a number of the students at NOVA’s Alexandria campus are recent immigrants and can’t necessarily be expected to know the nuances of American politics. Others, she said, are older women looking to re-enter the workforce.
Advertisement
Dr. Jill Biden has taught English at the Northern Virginia Community College since 2009
“Whatever I give them,” she told Vogue, “it has to be short. Because they leave my class and go straight to work, many of them. They may work until eight o’clock, then they have to do my homework, and they might have kids, too, or parents to take care of.”
She also told Vogue she often assigns “articles” rather than books because books are expensive – but said she does like to assign students Trevor Noah’s 2019 memoir, “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.”
NOVA accepts 100 percent of its applicants and some of the 14,000 in attendance at the Alexandria campus are Afghani immigrants.
Northern Virginia Community College. Google MapsA overhead view of the campus. Google Earth
Alexandria, which is a sanctuary city, has just one public high school with many Afghan refugees, a number of whom come to NOVA.
A spokesperson for NOVA didn’t provide a comment to The Post by press time, while a representative for Jill Biden didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
Advertisement
Dr. Biden, who taught as recently as May but does not appear to be on the summer teaching schedule, received a grade of 4.5 out of a possible 5 score on the “Rate my professors” site.
Many reviewers praise her, a few say she is not that organized — but the majority of them agree she is a tough grader.
“Am I allowed to say something mean?” asked one US-born student who did not want to give his name but said he had taken one class with her. “Because she’s kind of mean. I had one class with her. I didn’t really like her. It was impossible to please her.”
Prior to coming to NOVA, Jill Biden spent 15 years as a professor at Delaware Technical Community College and before that she was a high school teacher.
Dr. Jill Biden, who received her doctorate in education in 2007, is seen here grading papers aboard Air Force One in 2015 with President Barack Obama. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Jill Biden got considerable flack after her husband was elected president in Nov. 2020 for insisting on the “Dr.” title. Interestingly, her first Vogue cover, in June 2021, included the title on the cover. This month’s cover story did not.
Advertisement
“You can tell someone is smarting from an inferiority complex when he insists on being addressed as “Dr.” on the basis of holding an academic doctorate rather than being a physician,” Kyle Smith wrote in the National Review in Dec. 2020.
“Ph.D. holders who have genuine accomplishments don’t make you call them “Doctor,” which is why you never hear about “Dr. Paul Krugman” and “Dr. George Will.” None of the professors I knew at Yale, even the ones who were eminent in their fields, insisted on the title, and I think most of them would have scoffed if someone had addressed them as “Dr.”
In a 2021 Washington Post profile of Jill Biden, the educator included glowing reviews by some of her former students.
“She never really addressed the whole thing about being Jill Biden,” said Juliette Rosso, who had Biden as an English professor in 2017. “She was genuine, and she was humble.”
Mikaela Stack told the paper about Biden: “She cares deeply. She’s incredibly engaging and challenging and kind.”
Virginia Tech was a finalist for 2025 cornerback target Major Preston, but they missed out on him today. Preston comitted to Ole Miss this evening, deciding to go play for Lane Kiffin in the SEC. Preston had received a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction to land at Ole Miss earlier this week and he made it official today by committing to the Rebels.
Preston is a three-star prospect according to 247Sports Composite, ranking as the No. 623 player in the country, No. 56 cornerback, and No. 87 player in the state of Florida. He holds offers from Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Florida, Colorado, Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M, among others.
Here is some more stats and info on Preston courtesy of 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins:
“Multi-sport athlete that ran track and played basketball while at Hopewell (Va.) as a freshman.Posted a 19.23 in the 110h, a 59.90 in the 400 and a 19-10.5 effort in the LJ.
Advertisement
2023: Worked at both CB and SAF for IMG Academy, which played a national schedule. Totaled 6 tackles against Lipscomb Academy, 5 tackles against Ben Davis, 5 tackles against Glenville and 2 tackles against St. Joseph’s Prep.2022: Spent sophomore season in Virginia. Two-way player for Hopewell. Racked up 17 tackles, 5 INT and 4 PBU on defense per MaxPreps while adding 29 catches for 449 yards and a TD on offense. Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro honorable mention on defense.”
Last week, Virginia Tech got their biggest commitment of the summer when they landed four-star athlete Matthew Outen.
Outten is now the highest-rated commit for Virginia Tech in the 2025 class according to 247Sports, ranking as the No. 139 player in the country, the No. 5 athlete in the country and the No. 6 player in the state of Virginia.
Here are some stats and info on Outten courtesy of 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins:
“Also competes in track and field events.State qualifier in the 100 and 200-meter dashes as a sophomore.Top marks include 6.49 in the 55, 10.91 in the 100, 22.45 in the 200, 43-4 in the TJ and 5-6 in the HJ.
Advertisement
2023: Three-phase playmaker as a junior for Norcom getting snaps at WR and DB while doubling as team’s primary return man. In 6 games, caught 22 passes for 480 yards and 6 TD per MaxPreps. Added 22 tackles on defense along with a PRTD and a blocked punt.”
Team Biden-Harris and Virginia Democrats Energize Voters on July 4th Across the Commonwealth
On July 4th, the Biden-Harris campaign and the Democratic Party of Virginia came together to celebrate Independence Day and reach voters during parades and festivals in each of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts.
Advertisement
Nearly 300 organizers, elected officials, candidates, and supporters participated in the festivities, sparking energy and excitement to elect President Biden and Vice President Harris and Democrats up-and-down the ballot this November.
Senator Tim Kaine, state Senator Suhas Subramanyam, Eugene Vindman, and countless Democratic candidates marched alongside their supporters and emphasized to voters President Biden and Vice President Harris’ record of delivering results for Virginia and the threat Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans pose to Virginians’ freedoms, economic future, and our democracy.
On NBC 4 Washington:
Vice President of Fairfax Young Democrats: “I love Joe and I love Kamala especially. I’m a big supporter of the Biden-Harris administration, especially when it comes to reproductive rights. That’s really important to me.”
Reporter: “This voter there to watch the parade — also still solidly backing the president.”
Advertisement
Supporter: “[…] I’m for, going, sticking with the guy that I came to the party with. As a result, I’m holding fast.”
Reporter: “Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, also taking part in the parade. His take, that President Biden is a patriotic American who will put the country first as he decides how to move forward.”
Sen. Tim Kaine: “If Joe Biden looks in the mirror and says, I’m up for this — I’m with him. If he looks in the mirror and decides he’s not able to do it, he’s going to tell the nation that. We can trust Joe Biden to make the patriotic decision.”
In Blacksburg:
In the Blacksburg Fourth of July Parade, the Montgomery County Dems, Virginia Democratic Coordinated Campaign organizing team and supporters spread spirit along the route. Hand-drawn signs were placed on the side of the truck riding alongside supporters as they celebrated festivities and echoed support for Democrats on the ballot.
Advertisement
In South Norfolk:
Chesapeake Democrats led a march of supporters for the annual South Norfolk 4th of July parade and picnic.
In Chesterfield:
The Coordinated Campaign organizing team and the Chesterfield Dems walked in unity in the Hampton Park 4th of July parade. A Jeep was decked out with Democratic support as it rolled alongside Chesterfield Dems and the coordinated campaign.
In Cape Charles:
Advertisement
The organizing teams and Democrats from across the Eastern Shore marched in Cape Charles’ annual parade.
In Fairfax:
The City of Fairfax Democratic Committee marched in the Fairfax City Independence Day Parade alongside Sen. Tim Kaine, the Biden-Harris campaign, the Virginia Democratic Coordinated Campaign, Fairfax Young Democrats, and countless supporters, pushing for Democrats up and down the ballot.
Democrats from across Northern Virginia gathered together ahead of the parade and came to show support of Democrats up and down the ballot, from the City of Fairfax Dem Committee and their Young Dems, to Korean American Democrats, to VA Victory Coordinated Campaign to the Biden-Harris for President campaign.
In Purcellville:
Advertisement
The Purcellville Dems and Coordinated Campaign Organizers united to walk in the Purcellville July 4th parade. Democratic nominee for the 10th Congressional District Suhas Subramanyam marched alongside supporters and organizers, and Loudoun County organizer Jared Aguilera stopped to greet cheerful kids along the route.
In PWC:
The Prince William County Democrats, Coordinated Campaign organizers, and local supporters walked in unity at the 2024 Dale City Civic Association Fourth of July Parade. A large presence of support was shown for Latinos con Biden-Harris, as they took the parade route in an eye-catching trailer. This diverse parade echoed the diversity in the Democratic party, as supporters from across Prince William County came to celebrate with the county’s Dems.
In Scottsville:
VA Victory and Albemarle Dems walked together in the Scottsville Independence Day Parade to show support for Democrats up and down the ticket.
Advertisement
In Staunton:
The Staunton Democrats & Coordinated Campaign team marched for the 4th of July alongside Ken Mitchell, congressional candidate for the 6th district.
In York:
The Historic Triangle Dems led supporters alongside the Coordinated Campaign to march and cheer for the 4th of July in Yorktown. The Historic Triangle Dems from Williamsburg, James City, York and Poquoson joined the Coordinated Campaign to spread hope in electing Democrats up and down the ballot this fall.
In other areas:
Advertisement
Democratic leaders and volunteers also joined celebrations in Frederick County, Greene, and Leesburg.
Jesse Hamric, 18, was at a Fourth of July gathering with family and friends
He was found in distress in a lake and when friends jumped in they got shocked
Hamric was pulled out of the water but eventually died at a local hospital
By Stephen M. Lepore For Dailymail.Com
Published: | Updated:
A Colorado teenager was killed after he jumped into what may have been an electrified lake in Virginia and drowned.
Advertisement
Jesse Hamric, 18, was at a Fourth of July gathering with family and friends at Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston at a private home with a dock.
Two of Hamric’s friends could see him in trouble in the lake and tried to jump in, only to feel an electric shock.
Eventually, they were able to pull Hamric out of the water and perform CPR but he died at a local hospital later Thursday.
Hamric and the two friends were all believed to have been electrocuted, according to local police. Water can become electric when faulty wiring on boats or docks releases energy into the lake.
Jesse Hamric, 18, was at a Fourth of July gathering with family and friends at Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston at a private home with a dock. Two of Hamric’s friends could see him in trouble in the lake and tried to jump in, only to feel an electric shock
Eventually, they were able to pull Hamric out of the water and perform CPR but he died at a local hospital later Thursday
Medical Examiners are still performing an autopsy and a boat lift was near the scene of the accident, which could have malfunctioned and caused Hamric’s death as well.
Advertisement
However, the water was tested and electricity was found, leading investigators to believe stray voltage from a privately owned dock was the cause, WWVA reported.
Hamric was an athlete at Steamboat Springs High School in Colorado, where Hamric’s father, Jay, is the principal, according to the Steamboat Pilot. His mother is also an elementary school teacher in town.
Friends are saddened and already missing a beloved member of their community.
‘Ever since I first met that kid, I mean, he’s like one of a kind,’ friend Alex Schwab told KDVR.
‘You see him and you just, like, he always has a smile on his face.’
Advertisement
Hamric had just graduated from the school a month ago, where he was a varsity athlete in baseball and football.
Steamboat Springs held a prayer vigil for Hamric on Friday at the local Catholic church.
Hamric and the two friends were all believed to have been electrocuted, according to local police. Water can become electric when faulty wiring on boats or docks releases energy into the lake
Medical Examiners are still performing an autopsy and a boat lift was near the scene of the accident, which could have malfunctioned and caused Hamric’s death as well
‘Still can’t even like process it. I’m so upset by it,’ Schwab added.
The school posted a statement on its website to send out condolences in the wake of Hamric’s death.
‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of a recent Steamboat Springs High School graduate,’ they write.
Advertisement
They added that mental health counselors and crisis response professionals will be offered to the community.
‘Please take a moment to care for yourself, lean into those around you for support, and care for each other. Our thoughts are with all of you.’
The two friends who attempted to rescue Hamric were treated for their injuries at the scene and released.
Share or comment on this article:
Colorado boy, 18, dies after jumping into electrified Virginia lake
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
