Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is an American attorney and author, widely recognized for her role as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, during which time her husband, Barack Obama, served as the 44th president. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she is an alumna of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Her early career included work at the law firm Sidley Austin, followed by roles in nonprofits and as associate dean of student services at the University of Chicago.