Rena Nasar First serves as the Executive Director of the Emerson Fellowship and Campus Affairs at StandWithUs, where she directs the organization's campus outreach, activity, and leadership programs on an international scale. Rena was featured on the NY Jewish Week’s “36 to Watch” list for 2022, which highlights innovators who are contributing to society in ways that draw upon their diverse Jewish identities and sensibilities.

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As a Syrian Jew, Rena proudly represents her community wherever she goes. She is honored to be part of the Sephardic Leadership Institute, powered by JIMENA. Rena currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, Jason.

Brandon works as the Managing Director of the StandWithUs Campus team. Born in South Florida, Brandon graduated from Florida International University, where he studied political science with a minor in international relations and pre-law. Brandon’s connection with Israel stems from his grandparents’ aliyah nearly 30 years ago, and he has continued his focus on Israel through his work with NSCY, FIU Hillel, and many other organizations. After graduating high school, Brandon took a gap year and studied at Bar Ilan University. The year he spent learning in and traveling around Israel further fueled his devotion to advocate for Israel in his community. Brandon currently lives in Aventura, Florida, and is excited to be a part of the StandWithUs family and empower those around him!

Rebecca is a first-generation American born to immigrants from the former Soviet Union. While she did not grow up with a strong connection to Judaism and Israel, her passion runs deep and continues to strengthen during her work at StandWithUs. In 2016, Rebecca graduated from Northern Illinois University with a family and child studies degree. Following her studies, she spent ten months teaching in Ashdod, Israel, through Masa Israel Teaching Fellows and Aliyah. After working for Taglit and staffing many Birthright trips, Rebecca knew she wanted to build a career engaging with and educating young adults about Israel. Rebecca lived in Israel for four years before moving to Milwaukee and joining the StandWithUs team. After two years as the Midwest Campus Coordinator, Rebecca has brought many of the strategies from the Midwest to the National Campus Team as the Associate Director of Campus Education.  

Mary is from sunny Ormond Beach, FL, and is a graduate of Flagler College, where she studied Philosophy and Religion. Mary has worked in the Florida House of Representatives for 2 years and is delighted to join the StandWithUs family as the Christian Outreach Coordinator. Mary is a member of Kiwanis International and a club mentor at a local middle school. She is an active member of her church, involved in youth ministry, and loves to serve her community. Mary has a passion for Israel and helping her fellow Christians discover why and how they can be a friend of Israel. Throughout high school and college, Mary was involved with pro-Israel organizations like Christians United for Israel, Christian Women for Israel, and of course, StandWithUs as a Hispanic Emerson Fellow. She is thrilled to start bringing StandWithUs' message to more Christian students and leaders.

Jess Green is a Baltimore native and has always been an active member of her Jewish community, starting with her education at Krieger Schechter Day School and Beth Tfiloh Community High School. Jess attended the University of Miami, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. After participating in Onward Israel, she served as the President of Canes for Israel. Following the rise of antisemitism online, Jess created @challabackgirls, a social media platform dedicated to educating others about Israel. Jess is looking forward to empowering college students to develop their passion for Israel, combat antisemitism on campus, and create meaningful connections within the community. 

Chloe Levian graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied Sociology and Israel Studies. As the daughter of Iranian Jewish immigrants, Chloe made sure to take advantage of opportunities to get involved in Jewish life at UCLA. At UCLA, she served as the President of Bruins for Israel, Senior Chair of BIPAC (Bruins for Israel Public Affairs Committee), and the Roslyn and Abner Goldstine Undergraduate Fellow at the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies. Chloe was also a Hasbara Fellow, a Ronald S. Lauder Fellow for the World Jewish Congress, and the co-chair of the Hillel International Mizrahi and Sephardic student cohort. Chloe’s passion for Israel activism was rooted in her experiences with antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in college where StandWithUs provided her with the tools she needed to combat it. Chloe is a proud former Emerson Fellow, (2019-2020) Campus Liaison (2020-2021), and Alumni Network Liaison. 

Joshua Mitchell-Arbital graduated with a master’s in international studies with a focus on culture, power, and social movements from the University of San Francisco. His master's thesis was an applied project on how arts activism through solidarity poetry can be a tool of healing and a way of connecting communities dealing with conflict—focusing specifically on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Josh created a template with his research that can be used within any existing geopolitical conflict zone to lower tensions. Prior to receiving his master's degree, Josh received his BS in forensic science and BA in sociology from the University of Central Oklahoma, where he focused on behavioral sciences, becoming CPR-certified, and FEMA fire emergency certified. As an undergrad, he researched minority experience in healthcare which Josh then presented internationally in India and over twenty presentations domestically. In his last two years of attaining his undergraduate degrees, he was the coordinator of a city-wide clothing donation called the Community Closet, which provides clothing for disenfranchised communities through a non-profit on his campus called the Women’s Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center. Josh's intersectional identities and diverse and inclusive work put him on his path to not only fight for himself but the people around him and the Jewish State of Israel. Josh’s upbringing in a strong Jewish household and his personal and professional experience led him here, where he is empowered by educating the next generation on Israel. Josh dedicates his career to making Jewish people safer in this world and protecting the Jewish State. In a world where antisemitism has risen at alarming rates, Josh believes “Existence is Resistance!”

 Eitan is the Campus Regional Manager for New England. He graduated in 2023 with a degree in history from Virginia Tech, devoting his time there as a leader in the Jewish and pro-Israel community. His experiences working in such spaces have driven his passion to better the campus environment for the students in these communities. He believes the key to successful advocacy is being flexible and helping to inform the uninformed. 

Bella Schneider is a Chicago suburbs native with a BA in journalism and mass communication from Arizona State University. During her time at ASU, Bella was an active member of Alpha Epsilon Phi, the historically Jewish sorority, where she served as Vice President of Recruitment, New Member Educator, and Chapter President. Bella was the 2023 recipient of the AEPhi Susan Rudd Cohen Award for Jewish Communal Service for her work combating antisemitism on campus and is a proud StandWithUs Emerson Fellow alum (2022-2023). Bella's passion for Israel comes from her late grandfather, an officer in the Sinai Campaign and a proud Zionist. She further developed her love for Israel when she participated in Onward Israel and interned in Tel Aviv's communications department, working on their social media accounts. When Bella is not connecting with students in the Tri-State region, she can be found running around Central Park with the run club, Nice Jewish Runners. 

Sophie, originally from New Jersey, is an alumna of Indiana University. Her deep connection with Israel began in her childhood, influenced by her Holocaust-survivor grandfather and her two brothers, who moved to Israel and enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces. Sophie served as the President of Hoosiers for Israel, demonstrating her leadership and organizational skills by working closely with the administration and orchestrating large events. Her commitment to advocacy is further highlighted by her participation in the StandWithUs First Year Leadership Internship, Emerson Fellowship, and Campus Liaison program. Sophie's dedication has been recognized with the second place Roberta Seid Award and the honor of being named the Campus Honoree for Standing Against Antisemitism at the 2023 StandWithUs Midwest Gala.

Eric, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, is a first-generation American with Ukrainian roots. He attended Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania, where he received his degree in labor and employment relations and a minor in Jewish studies. Eric became involved with the Jewish community and Israel advocacy as a student. After leaving Penn State, he moved to Jerusalem for nine months to study at Aish HaTorah, where he spent his time learning and helping new students find their personal connection to Judaism and Israel. Eric has spent the past three years working for Hillel at the University of Illinois and is excited to continue supporting students on campuses throughout the Midwest.  

Shachar-Lee Yaakobovitz was born in Israel and moved to the United States at a young age, eventually settling in the Bay Area, California. During her undergraduate career at the University of California-Davis, Shachar-Lee’s experiences with antisemitism on campus propelled her to become a leader in the Jewish and pro-Israel community. She was the UC Davis StandWithUs Emerson Fellow in 2019-2020 and Vice President and President of the club Aggies for Israel in the following years. Additionally, she served as a Hasbara Fellow, student board member for Hillel at Davis & Sacramento, and as the President of the Jewish sorority. After graduating with two degrees and a minor, Shachar-Lee spent two years completing the Springboard Fellowship at Penn State Hillel, specializing in increasing student engagement, innovation, connection to Judaism and Israel, and marketing strategies. She is thrilled to return to the StandWithUs family and the Northwest region as the Campus Regional Manager. During her free time, you can find Shachar-Lee traveling, drinking iced coffee, or hanging out with her dog and four cats. 

Talia Aiss has recently joined StandWithUs as the Southern Campus Regional Manager, where she will lead initiatives to educate and empower students across Southern campuses. With a double major in Politics and Literature from the Hebrew University and a strong background in Jewish advocacy and nonprofit management, Talia brings extensive experience from her work at the Knesset, the Israeli Mission to the UN, and various Jewish organizations. Her expertise in strategic program management and public speaking allows her to foster informed and supportive campus communities, where she looks forward to mentoring students and addressing campus challenges related to Israel and antisemitism

Aaron Carlson hails from Indiana and recently graduated from Grace College, where he earned degrees in Elementary Education, Political Science, and a Masters in Higher Education.  On campus, Aaron was actively involved in a current events club that integrated world news with what the Bible says.  He now serves as the Christian Outreach Campus Manager for StandWithUs, a premier organization dedicated to supporting Israel and combatting antisemitism.  In his spare time, Aaron enjoys spending time outdoors, travelling, and competing in both motorsports and disc golf events across the Midwest.

Libby Cohen, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and proud graduate of Dickinson College, has pursued a career rooted in social justice and education. She began with a service year through City Year Jacksonville, where she supported students in underserved communities. She then moved to Bengkulu, Indonesia, to teach English, immersing herself in transformative cross-cultural experiences and education. 
Upon returning to the U.S., Libby participated in Birthright Israel, where she discovered a renewed connection with Israel, the people, and her Jewish identity. Inspired by this experience, she felt called to support her community by promoting Israel education and fostering meaningful connections. Currently residing in Pittsburgh, PA, Libby is dedicated to empowering college students across the Mid-Atlantic region and supporting them in their journeys of combating antisemitism.