SANTA CRUZ >> Jill Biden, who served as first lady of the United States from 2021 to 2025, will be coming to speak at Kaiser Permanente Arena Sept. 27. Presale tickets are now available and will go on sale to the general public July 17.

“We are extremely honored to welcome Dr. Jill Biden to Santa Cruz and to Kaiser Permanente Arena,” David Kao, chief operating officer of the Santa Cruz Warriors, said in a statement. “As a lifelong educator, Dr. Biden has championed various initiatives with extensive commitment to public service. The wealth of experience through her unique perspective makes this event incredibly enriching and impactful for the Santa Cruz community and beyond. We are proud to host such an iconic figure.”

Jill Biden served as first lady when her husband, Joe Biden, served as president from 2021 to January of this year, and as second lady from 2009 to 2017 when Joe Biden served as Barack Obama’s vice president. During her time in the White House, Jill Biden co-founded the Joining Forces initiative to support members of the military and their families, advocated for increased educational opportunities, helped reignite the Cancer Moonshot initiative with the goal of ending cancer and launched the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research to prioritize research on women’s health.

Additionally, Jill Biden served as a leading messenger for priorities such as safely reopening schools after they were closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, urging Americans to get vaccinated against COVID and restoring global relations. She received a doctoral degree in education from the University of Delaware and was a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College from 2009 to 2024, making her the first presidential spouse to have a salaried job during the majority of her husband’s presidential tenure. She is also the author of the bestselling memoir “Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself” and the children’s books “Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops” and “Joey: The Story of Joe Biden.” She is currently the chair of the Milken Institute’s Women’s Health Network.

“An Evening With Dr. Jill Biden” is 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., Santa Cruz. Tickets will go on sale to the general public Thursday at 9 a.m., and early access tickets are available through the Santa Cruz Warriors’ website. People can also sign up for Warriors Insider for presale access. For information, go to SantaCruz.gleague.nba.com.