by Janelle Hamre ’11 and Jessica Sly ’12

Emily Jacobs ’11 started her Northwestern journey earlier than most students. As a preschooler, she “graduated” from Northwestern’s Child Development Center (CDC) in 1995 and years later returned to NWC to major in psychology.

As one of the early students served by the CDC when it opened in September 1994, Jacobs became an unknowing pioneer in what would become a nationally accredited center offering unique preschool curriculum in music, science, math and creative arts. In addition, the CDC serves as a learning lab for NWC’s early childhood education majors.

Jacobs grew up in a Northwestern family. Her grandmother Idell (Bixby ’46) Jacobs attended Northwestern in its early years. Her parents are Dennis Jacobs ’77 and Paula Jacobs F’94.

Though childhood memories can feel clouded in a Crayola-colored fog, Emily recalls that a highlight of her time as a preschool student was walking door to door visiting the elderly residents at the EagleCrest retirement community in which the CDC is located as part of the center’s “Grandfriends” program.

Emily completed her Northwestern journey in December 2011, but her education has not stopped. She has been accepted into Wheaton College’s (Ill.) Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program and begins her studies there in August.