Russell E. Armistead, MBA, associate vice president of finance and planning for the Health Science Center greets the new College of Medicine Office of Minority Affairs assistant dean Dr. Michelle E. Jacobs, during her welcoming reception on August 25, at the Founders Gallery. Photo by Sarah Kiewel

Staff, faculty, students and family celebrated the new assistant dean, who’s been working with minority affairs since June but wasn’t officially introduced due to the slow pace of summer.

“Having the reception the first week of school was perfect because students are back,” Jacobs said. “And I really wanted them to participate.”

“Mentoring is what I really love to do,” she said.

As assistant dean for the Office of Minority affairs, her hope is to recruit more minority medical students to the College of Medicine.

“Not only in the state is there a low number of minority physicians, but even as a nation,” Jacobs said. “And I’m excited to help expand the great job the Office of Minority Affairs is already doing to try to change that.”

According to the person who knows her best, her husband Trevor Elliot,  Jacobs is a great candidate to help bring that hope and make it a reality, he said.