Casey DeSantis
Jill Casey DeSantis ("née" Black, born June 26, 1980) is a former news and television show host who is the current first lady of Florida. She is the wife of the 46th governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis. DeSantis lives with her husband and three young children in the Florida Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee, Florida. Early life and education. DeSantis is originally from Troy, Ohio. She graduated from the College of Charleston and received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and minored in French. Career. Earlier in her career she hosted Golf Channel programs "On The Tee  and PGA Tour Today". She was also a local newscaster and anchor for WJXT, an independent station in Jacksonville, Florida, and held several positions, including general assignment reporter, morning anchor, and police reporter. She also did special reports, including for CNN. In 2014, DeSantis was a creator-moderator for "The Chat", an hour-long round table panel discussion talk show that aired on Tegna's Jacksonville stations WTLV (NBC) and WJXX (ABC). DeSantis hosted the daily local talk show "First Coast Living" as well as the weekly "The American Dream" program about entrepreneurs. DeSantis wrote and produced the television documentary  Champion, The JT Townsend Story about high school football player J.T. Townsend. She met Ron DeSantis, then a naval officer at Naval Station Mayport, on a golf course. They married in September 2010. Florida Politics calls Casey "one of the most recognizable faces on Jacksonville television, with long runs at two local news operations." First Lady of Florida. In February 2019, she established the First Lady's Medal for Courage, Commitment, and Service. Soon after, she announced Florida's 2019 Black History Month theme as "Celebrating Public Service" where she and the governor honored the winners of Florida's Black  History Month student contests and Excellence in Education Award recipients at the Governor's Mansion. DeSantis recognized Mary Ann Carroll, the only female member of The Highwaymen, as Florida's featured artist for the month. DeSantis participated in a Recovery Redfish Release to address the devastating impacts of red tide. "I’ve heard from those throughout Florida who understand that our water must be safe for our families, visitors and economy." DeSantis has hosted listening sessions on Venezuela, Hurricane Relief, and Mental Health to identify ways to continue statewide improvement. The governor recently appointed DeSantis as the Chair of the  Children & Youth Cabinet. In August 2019, DeSantis presided over the first meeting of the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet as its chair. On October 4, 2021, her husband, Governor Ron DeSantis, announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. On March 3, 2022, DeSantis announced that his wife was cancer free. Personal life. DeSantis and her husband have two daughters, Madison and Mamie, and a son, Mason.