Ryan Lien

I thrive on building community and amplifying voices, helping others find ways to make life better. I've taught theater and language arts, worked on an Illinois State Senate campaign, and interned at the Chicago Mayor's Office of Press and Communication before joining the Virginia Teach for America corps.

At Northwestern, I majored in Comparative Literary Studies and Theatre with minors in Business Institutions and Legal Studies, exploring how language impacts the world, context shapes meaning, and organization drives change. I was Parliamentarian/Chief Justice of our student government, Student Staff Development Manager at Norris University Center, and both produced and wrote multiple student theatre productions.

As a type 1 diabetic, advocacy is deeply important to me. I would not be where I am without those who empowered me to speak up for the accommodations I need for my invisible disability.

Looking ahead, I intend to attend law school and serve the public as an attorney.