Casey DeSantis


Jill Casey DeSantis is a former American news and conversation television show host and first lady of Florida, the wife of 46th governor Ron DeSantis. She co-hosted the show First Coast Living with former Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Curtis Dvorak. She won a local Emmy for her primetime special "Real Life CSI". 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 was a 3-time National Champion equestrian as well as a runner-up Division I NCAA Champion. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics, minored in French, and was a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon honor society for economics as well as Pi Delta Phi honor society for 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 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 simulcast on NBC and ABC. DeSantis hosted the daily NBC 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.

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.

Family

DeSantis and her husband have two daughters, Madison and Mamie, and a son, Mason. She gave birth to Mamie in March 2020, becoming the first child to be born to a sitting governor since 1970.