Because our generation has waited so long to have babies, we feel we've 'discovered' something that women have been doing for thousands of years. I have no illusions that I will be in the same situation as the average working mother. I'm not trying to prove anything - I just want to have kids.

She subsequently earned a scholarship to Indiana University where Jane Pauley was involved in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. After leaving The Today Show Pauley hosted Real Life with Jane Pauley and served as deputy anchor for NBC Nightly News. In 2009 Pauley joined the Board of Directors of The Mind Trust an Indianapolis-based non-profit organization that supports education innovation and reform.

She is best known for her 13-year tenure on NBC's Today program followed by 12 years as co-host of Dateline NBC and for her public acknowledgements of her struggle with bipolar disorder.