Lori Ann Jacobson
May 13, 1958 – January 31, 2018

"Lori was integral to WMA history and was a loyal and true friend to many in the museum community not to mention her amazing talent as an exhibit designer and developer."

- Gail Anderson
President of Gail Anderson & Associates; former President of WMA Board of Directors

Lori Ann Jacobson was born in Story City, Iowa, on May 13, 1958. She died at home on January 31, 2018 from breast cancer, surrounded by her husband, Jason and siblings, Kay, Becky and Jon. Her life was characterized by joy, optimism, and her unbounded love for family and friends.

Lori grew up in Roland, Iowa, the daughter of Norman Amos Jacobson and Marjorie JoAnn Swanson Jacobson. She graduated from Roland Story High School in 1976, and went on to complete Bachelor of Science in History and Bachelor of Arts in Advertising Design degrees from Iowa State University. A Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley followed.

It was her love of all things aesthetic, her talent for drawing and painting, and her superb organizational skills, paired with her work in the Iowa State University Museums that set her on her career path. Accomplished in project management, planning, exhibit development, education and interpretation, Lori worked for the McAllen International Museum in McAllen, Texas and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and was the Executive Director for the Western Museums Association. As a consultant, she led many cultural institutions through the development of exhibit and interpretive master plans, program needs assessments, and exhibit design and fabrication. Recent work also included strategic planning for the UCLA Women’s Reproductive Health Research Program. She was committed to creating engaging and memorable experiences for learners of all ages.

Lori is survived by her husband, Jason Kogan; her sisters, Kay Stanley (Don), and Rebecca Diercks (Ross); brother Jon Jacobson (Donna); many nieces, nephews, and other family members; and by many, many friends and colleagues who cherished her uplifting spirit and infectious laugh. Lori wrote once, “I am a spiritual person who seeks to find the good in others and in myself, to live mindfully, and to be grateful throughout.” She certainly achieved those goals.

The family has asked that donations in memory of Lori be sent to the Simms/Mann—UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology where Lori was an Advisory Board Member. (310) 794-6644 or www.cancer.ucla.edu/Jacobson.