South Middlesex Times

Rachel Toepfer, a senior at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, has been making strides in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights while pursuing a major in political science and a minor in women’s gender studies. Identifying as nonbinary, Toepfer draws parallels between their role-playing game character—a paladin fighting for a cause—and their real-world commitment to advocacy.

Toepfer's passion for activism began during high school amid the political climate of 2016. "Back in 2016, when America was having a lot of tumultuous times, I kind of got woken up a little bit," said Toepfer. Their upbringing in Monson, Massachusetts, within an accepting community that normalized diverse family structures, further fueled this passion.

Throughout their academic journey at Rutgers, Toepfer has taken on various leadership roles and participated actively in promoting diversity and inclusion. They have served as an Honors College Changemaking Mentor and led initiatives like the Honors College LGBTQ+ Affinity Group.

In addition to campus involvement, Toepfer gained valuable experience through an internship with Senator Elizabeth Warren's Springfield office. The opportunity provided insight into legislative processes and the pace of change within government operations. Reflecting on this experience, they remarked on the slow nature of policy change: "From an advocacy perspective... I've realized that things don't change very fast."

Toepfer envisions continuing their advocacy work beyond graduation with aspirations to become an executive director within human rights organizations or potentially run for office in the future.

Their dedication has not gone unnoticed by peers and mentors alike. Donel Young from the Honors College praised Toepfer’s contributions: “They have dedicated much of their life here at the Honors College to mentoring fellow students.”

Outside academia and activism pursuits—such as volunteering with Democrats to elect progressive representatives—Toepfer finds solace in creative hobbies like drawing and photography.

Looking ahead toward career goals tied closely with social justice causes drives Rachel forward: "I want to be working for some advocacy group as a director... somewhere in human rights."