Pronouns: she/her/hers

At Elevate, Ren specializes in writing grants for clients on a range of issues, primarily focusing on education and youth development, health care, and services for individuals experiencing homelessness. Her clients report that she has a knack for learning deeply about their programs and funding landscape to develop strategic grants that are highly competitive for funding. Ren draws from her own experiences as a Grant Writer to support the career development of Elevate staff in her current role as Supervising Director. 

Ren has followed a passion for promoting access to health services in the United States and abroad throughout her career. While pursuing her Master of Social Work, she saw how access to high-quality physical and mental health care plays a vital role in enabling individuals to achieve their fullest potential. 

Before joining Elevate, she worked as a Graduate Assistant for the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program, where she assisted with writing grants for their programs in Liberia and Haiti. She was also an intern with Georgia State Representative Shelly Hutchinson, where she conducted research and wrote policy briefs related to improving access to health services, immigrant rights, and criminal justice reform. 

Ren graduated from the University of Georgia with a Master of Social Work and a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. She also has a BS in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University.

In her free time, Ren loves doing anything outdoors! In particular, she enjoys hiking and playing ultimate frisbee.