She received her B. A. in 1978 and her M. A. in 1980 from California State University, Northridge. Jacobi has been honored with several awards including many from the National Watercolor Society as well as being part of the Fresno Art Museum's Council of 100 Distinguished Women Artists for 2010.

Jacobi is a classically trained, contemporary realist painter. Her work focuses on portraiture, yet is often presented in otherworldly or fantastical scenes. Having worked professionally for over 35 years, exhibiting in galleries and museums throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, Jacobi is also experimenting with other genres, especially photography.

Jacobi's work can be found internationally in many private and public collections such as Centrum Jadaicum (Stiftung Neue Synagogue) Berlin, Gemrany; San Francisco Cultural and Civic Center; American Jewish Committee, Berlin, Germany; Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; New York Public Library; Kirsten Kjaer Museum, Frostrup, Denmark; BC Hydro, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.