December 19, 2023
LA JOLLA—The Salk Institute Board of Trustees welcomes its newest trustee, Amy Jacobs. Chaired by Marna C. Whittington, the Salk Board helps drive the direction of the world-renowned biological research facility founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk.
Jacobs brings her experience as a philanthropist with an educational background in science to the Institute. Since moving to San Diego 13 years ago, she has been active in supporting local Jewish organizations and the Jacobs Cushman San Diego Food Bank, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, as well as housing and homelessness initiatives in San Diego. Additionally, Jacobs is a member of the Pauline Foster Women’s Leadership Institute and a former member of Forward Global (formerly the Philanthropy Workshop).
“We are thrilled Amy is joining the Board,” says Salk President Gerald Joyce. “She is a positive force in the San Diego community, and we are excited for the knowledge and perspective that she brings to the Institute.”
Jacobs attended the University of Alberta in her hometown of Edmonton, Canada, where she received a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences with a minor in physical sciences. She and her husband, Adam Jacobs, have a 22-month-old daughter and a newborn son. Jacobs is not currently working, as she is staying home to care for the couple’s children. She will formally join the Salk Board in April 2024.
"I am honored and thrilled to be a part of the Board of Trustees at Salk,” says Jacobs, who explains that her driving force behind she and her husband’s philanthropy is based on tikkun olam, or world repair, the idea that we are all responsible for leaving the world a better place than we found it. “I see this idea reflected in the groundbreaking research that occurs at the Salk Institute. My passion and respect for the sciences started at an early age and I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to combine this with my philanthropic endeavors and experience to support and contribute to the success and growth of an organization as forward-thinking as the Salk Institute."
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Unlocking the secrets of life itself is the driving force behind the Salk Institute. Our team of world-class, award-winning scientists pushes the boundaries of knowledge in areas such as neuroscience, cancer research, aging, immunobiology, plant biology, computational biology and more. Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge.
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