Wahoo Native Dean Jacobs Pursues His Dreams by Traveling the Globe
Jacobs Set for Feb. 19 Presentation at Wahoo Elementary
Launch the media gallery 1 playerSince 2001, Dean Jacobs has spent four and a half years traversing across the globe exploring over 51 countries on a low budget adventure, propelled by a desire to understand the world we share.
Jacobs was born in Wahoo, Neb. After living on a farm, his family moved to Fremont, Neb., when he was five years old. Growing up in the Midwest gave him an appreciation for the simple things in life.
He graduated from Wayne State College, earning a degree in biology, with minors in earth science and art. After graduating, he worked in the administration of Wayne State College as the assistant to the president, before moving on to Purina Mills. Eventually, this path led him to Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, where he was employed in sales/marketing for ten years.
After a great deal of soul searching, Jacobs left the security of corporate America, and decided to pursue other dreams. This was the beginning of a process that would lead to a traveling adventure that would span 22 ½ months and cover 28 countries.
Taking photos became a natural expression of the journey for Jacobs as he documented and verified the common ground of our humanity. To Jacobs, photography is a discovery process where something extraordinary can be found within the confines of ordinary life.
These days, when Jacobs is not traveling, he keeps busy as a contributing newspaper columnist, photojournalist, children’s book author, and keynote presenter across the country.
Jacobs recently completed a six-month journey of exploring the Amazon River and rain forest of South America. He will be in residence at Wahoo Elementary on February 19, presenting student assemblies and workshops.
For more information, please visit www.deanjacobs.org.
"I believe that in each of us lives the idea of, or spirit of, an Indiana Jones. This spirit is the part of us that loves to explore, to discover new things, new lands, and new people. It is in these discoveries we also discover a part of ourselves. And since we are ever changing, that process is never ending. Some choose to honor it. Others choose to ignore it, but nonetheless it is always in us, waiting for the newness of things patiently waiting." (pg. 212 of Wondrous Journey by Dean Jacobs)