A Conversation with Jill Biden

Join former first lady Jill Biden for a discussion of her new memoir, *View from the East Wing*, on June 8 at 6:30 p.m. in Langford Auditorium at Vanderbilt University. The event, hosted by the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, Dialogue Vanderbilt, and the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center in collaboration with Parnassus Books, will feature Biden in conversation with a special guest. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and tickets are priced at $45.50, which includes a general admission seat and a copy of *View from the East Wing* with a signed bookplate. Ten dollars from each ticket purchase will support the 2026 Southern Festival of Books, presented by Vanderbilt University in partnership with Humanities Tennessee.

In her memoir, Biden shares her experiences in the White House, reflecting on her life as an advocate for various causes amidst significant national challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection. She became the first first lady to hold an outside job while serving, continuing her role as a professor. This discussion is part of Dialogue Vanderbilt's yearlong series, "250 Conversations on America: Civil Discourse in Action," celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary and Vanderbilt’s commitment to open dialogue. Jill Biden, who served as first lady from 2021 to 2025 and previously as second lady from 2009 to 2017, is also the author of the bestselling memoir *Where the Light Enters* and several children’s books. She currently resides in Wilmington, Delaware, with her husband Joe Biden, their cat Willow, and two puppies.