Student and Alumni Spotlights

Wren Lieberman

Finding Voice, Building Change: A Path to Policy and Community

Wren Lieberman

Public Policy, Class of 2026

  • Minor: Political Science
  • Hometown: Robbinsville, NJ
  • Activities at Rutgers: FIGS Peer Instructor – Exploring Diversity and Social Justice, Rutgers Career Exploration and Success FIGS Program; RU Voting Intern, Eagleton Center for Youth Political Participation; Tyler’s Legacy Board Member, Tyler Clementi Center; Voices of Diversity Student Advisory Board Member, School of Arts and Sciences; Orphan Sporks Acapella

 

Community came into focus through music for Wren Lieberman. As a transfer student, they weren’t sure how—or where—they’d find connection on campus. But joining an a cappella group helped spark something deeper.

“Trying to find a place where I could perform on campus is what led me to get more involved at Rutgers,” Wren said. “Finding community through music helped me find other communities.”

Now a Public Policy major with a minor in Political Science, Wren is involved in roles that bridge education, civic engagement, and social justice—from serving on the Tyler Clementi Center’s Legacy Board to teaching a FIGS seminar on diversity. But their passion for advocacy began long before college.

“I’ve always wanted to make systemic changes and positively impact marginalized communities,” they said. “Growing up, I was taught the importance of standing up for others and calling out injustices.” That early awareness led Wren to get involved with their high school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance. “I knew I wanted to help LGBTQ+ individuals by creating more equitable systems and minimizing potential oppression.”

Wren initially applied to and went on to attend an out-of-state school, but decided to transfer after a year, seeking more opportunities and less academic pressure. “I felt like I was in a social and academic vacuum that didn’t allow me to explore my career interests,” they said. “I was worried that coming to Rutgers as a transfer student would make it harder to get involved—but I ended up finding friends and community through the experiences I’ve had.”

Their choice to study public policy was influenced by both personal values and family insight—Wren’s father has been an adjunct professor at the Bloustein School for over a decade. “When I knew I was transferring, I began researching Bloustein and confirmed it would be a good fit for me,” they said.

Among their favorite courses are Writing, Reasoning, and Public Policy with Professor Will Irving. “It taught me how to write to politicians instead of professors,” Wren said. They also found inspiration in Professor Fine’s Organizing for Social Change class, which reshaped their understanding of advocacy. “That course shifted my focus from legislative change to how policy can enact societal change,” they said.

Wren’s hands-on experience includes a policy internship with the Climate Revolution Action Network of New Jersey (CRAN), where they deepened their research and policy analysis skills.

“Even though environmental policy wasn’t my specialty, it taught me how to conduct research in unfamiliar territory,” they said.

Looking ahead, Wren hopes to work for a nonprofit focused on social justice and eventually attend graduate school to continue exploring the intersection of policy and community-based change. “Regardless of what exactly I do after graduation, I want to work in a position that lets me explore how policy can help marginalized communities.”

Their advice to prospective students: “Don’t be intimidated by the small size of the public policy major. There are a lot of opportunities at Rutgers that policy students would be interested in. Use the resources available and don’t limit yourself. I started my college career thinking I would only be willing to work in LGBTQ+ policy, but through the work I’ve done and the classes I’ve taken at Rutgers, I realized I want to focus on the broader topics of social justice and community action.”

Outside of class, Wren finds joy in music, long walks around campus, baking, amateur photography, and video games. “When I’m not focused on academics, I love to do anything related to music,” they said. “It’s what led me to where I am today.”