UNC Pembroke graduate Leanna Jacobs advanced closer to a career in medicine with her recent acceptance into the Physician Assistant program at Methodist University.

Jacobs said the continual support and encouragement from her professors and mentors were the keys to her success while earning a biology degree at UNCP.

“They made me push harder because they knew my end goal was PA (Physician Assistant) school,” she said. “While stepping into this next chapter of my life, I feel grateful because my UNCP experience provided me the foundation to take on the challenges of PA school.”

Before graduating from UNCP in Spring 2020, Jacobs was a member of the prestigious Esther G. Maynor Honors College and a standout student-athlete, competing all four years as a thrower on the Women’s Track and Field team. She was awarded the team’s Chancellor’s Award for having the highest GPA her junior year.

Among her academic honors, she was ranked in the top 10% of her class and inducted into the Kappa Chapter of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. Jacobs was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

The Raeford native will join the PA program at Methodist in August. Upon graduation, her goal is to become a certified physician assistant.

“My experience at UNCP is one I will cherish forever. I made memories that will last a lifetime and the friends to go with them. Pursuing a biology degree was challenging at times but worth every second. I will always hold UNCP in my heart, and I will continue to be BraveStrong.”