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- calendar_today October 9, 2026
David Jacobs' Early Interest in Investing
David C. Jacobs mapped out his career plans as a high school student. He envisioned earning a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing at The Ohio State University, followed by a Wall Street role as a stockbroker. While Jacobs' professional path ultimately led him elsewhere, his passion for investing endured. "It didn’t quite work out as planned," Jacobs recalled, "But my time at Ohio State afforded me the opportunity to pivot quickly into a different industry altogether."
Success in Insurance and Philanthropic Investments
Jacobs found his calling in the insurance industry, where he spent over 35 years leading teams, expanding company revenues, and developing new markets and products. Throughout his career, he maintained a vested interest in investments—supporting people, real estate, and his alma mater. Notably, Jacobs served on Fisher College’s Alumni Board and Dean’s Advisory Council, where he learned of a growing need for modern educational resources at Ohio State.
The Jacobs Family Business Lab: A Hands-On Investment Lab
David and his wife Brenda Jacobs, herself an Ohio State alumna, recently played a pivotal role in establishing the Jacobs Family Business Lab at the Fisher College of Business. The lab, located on the first floor of Mason Hall on the Columbus campus, is a state-of-the-art investment lab designed to give students practical, hands-on learning in investments, innovation, artificial intelligence, and emerging business technologies.
Empowering Students with Bloomberg Terminals and Real-Time Data
The Jacobs Family Lab features 30 Bloomberg terminals, providing students access to real-time financial market data and allowing for interactive, hands-on learning. Matt Sheridan, senior lecturer in finance and the lab's director, emphasized the impact of these resources: "Bloomberg gives students pursuing careers on Wall Street — in investment banking, institutional asset management and wealth management — a significant competitive advantage." More than 300,000 professionals globally use Bloomberg terminals for market analysis and investment research.
Previously, students had access to only 12 terminals in a space unsuitable for instruction. The new lab fills a vital gap at Fisher College of Business by creating an engaging classroom environment that supports student investment skills, financial analysis, and career readiness.
Transforming Business Education with Innovative Technology
"The Jacobs Lab is filling this important gap by creating a highly engaging classroom environment that allows students to learn by doing, interact with professional financial tools and develop skills that directly translate to the workplace," Sheridan noted. Faculty from various departments can utilize the lab, which also boasts a digital stock ticker wrapping around its exterior for real-time analysis.
David Jacobs shared his motivation behind the project: "I hope that it can be transformational for the students. Students coming out of Fisher are some of the top in the country." His wife Brenda echoed the educational focus of their contribution: "Brenda and I wanted our gift to be educationally based."
The Future of Fisher College Business Education
Aravind Chandrasekaran, interim dean of Fisher College of Business, sees the innovation lab as a model for evolving business education: "When we talk about disrupting business education in ways that meet the needs of our students and workforce development, the Jacobs Family Lab is proof of that concept." The lab’s adaptability and integration of innovative technology are expected to enhance the student experience and prepare graduates for dynamic futures in business.
Source: news.osu.edu.
