A Moment with Jill Biden

Cheriss May (B.A. ’94), photographer and adjunct professor in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, is no stranger to capturing VIPs and major moments in history. However, when she received a request to take a portrait of first lady Jill Biden, May was stunned. “To receive a call like that was surreal,” she says. 

May, who specializes in visual storytelling and “making a connec- tion behind the camera,” says Dr. Biden was “very warm and approachable” and that the two bonded as educators. May’s goal was to let that warmth and humanity show through. The portrait can be viewed on the White House website.

“I was just happy to be a part of that moment in history,” May says. “I still get goosebumps thinking about it.”