She received her Ph.D. in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research interests center on issues related to poverty and inequality, particularly in the United States. Prior to starting her Ph.D. program, Jacob worked as publications manager at the Center for Social Development, a research and policy center based at Washington University in St. Louis. Her academic experience includes adjunct teaching in the undergraduate social work program at San Jose State University, and teaching assistant positions at the University of California, Berkeley. Jacob is also a commissioner on the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Research.