Barry Jakob grew up in Los Angeles and is a graduate of the University of California - Santa Cruz. He has extensive history as a student activist, having served as the Stevenson College Student Union Assembly (SUA) Representative, the SUA External Vice-Chair's Vote Coordinator, the Co-President of the Santa Cruz Israel Action Committee, the President of the Israel Coexistence Committee, and the Chief of Staff to the SUA's Internal Vice-Chair. Barry played an instrumental role in helping defeat the BDS movement at UCSC in 2013. He currently works in New York City as the Midwest Regional Advisor for Hasbara Fellowships.