When Ren Birnholz first came to campus in 2019, they found that the university already had several thriving activist groups. They became an active member of NU Share, a group dedicated to sexual education and advocacy, their freshman year, later becoming the group’s president. As part of their work with NU Share, they worked with the Office of Prevention and Education at Northeastern (OPEN) to install a sexual wellness vending machine, offering students on the Boston campus access to emergency contraception at a reduced price while also working to reduce stigma.
They continued their advocacy work in their co-ops with Brookline Public Schools and Boston Public School’s Office of Equity. Their experiences helped solidify their goal after graduation: to earn their PhD and become a sexuality educator in public schools. Their advocacy work also led them to the White House, where they attended a summit on reproductive rights with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Birnholz was also the recipient of the Wendy Bree Klein award for leadership.
Departments
Theatre
Education
BA, Cultural Anthropology & Theatre
