Jill Biden tells Colbert she's proud of her doctorate, baffled by criticism of her use of honorific

Dr. Jill Biden
(Image credit: Screenshot/twitter/The Late Show)

A former lecturer at Northwestern University named Joseph Epstein wrote an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal last week criticizing incoming first lady Jill Biden's use of the prefix Dr., since she holds a doctorate in education and not a medical degree. "Madame First Lady — Mrs. Biden — Jill — kiddo: a bit of advice on what may seem like a small but I think is a not unimportant matter," Epstein began. He dismissed the "unpromising" title of her dissertation, "Student Retention at the Community College Level: Meeting Students’ Needs.'"

Biden, 69, told Stephen Colbert on Thursday's Late Show she found the critique "such a surprise," especially the tone. "You know, he called me 'kiddo,'" she said. "One of the things I'm most proud of is my doctorate. You know, I worked so hard for it." Biden said she was grateful and "overwhelmed by how gracious people were" in responding to the op-ed.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.