Raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, Ben Ackman is studying economics and photography at American University in Washington, DC. He contributes photos to several print and online publications on campus, primarily AWOL Magazine. In April 2025, his reporting broke the news of the federal government revoking international student visas at AU and was sourced in trackers of visa revocations across the United States by Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education. He also serves as design editor at the American University Photo Collective and freelances for the Jersey City Times after interning there in the summer of 2025.

Having gotten his start in visual arts from machinima and 3D graphics, Ben is inspired by CG art and animation.