“Advocacy Moves Hearts. Policy Changes Lives,” says University Medalist Finalist

Whether in the classroom or the halls of Capitol Hill, Lily Fleischmann has spent her time at the School of Public Policy translating values into action, and helping others see how policy touches every part of life. As a finalist for the 2025 University Medal—UMD’s highest undergraduate honor recognizing academic excellence, campus leadership and community service—she has served as a voice for student engagement, equity and advocacy across campus and beyond.

Fleischmann came to UMD knowing she was passionate about social justice but unsure of where that path would lead. She quickly found a home at the School of Public Policy, where she began to connect the dots between grassroots organizing and institutional change.

“Advocacy moves hearts. Policy changes lives. Neither works in isolation,” she said. “The biggest shifts happen when grassroots energy meets institutional power, when advocates and policymakers understand and trust each other. In my career, I want to help bridge that gap.”

Fleischmann founded Terps for Reproductive Justice, a student organization that brought together voices from across campus to share stories, host events and advocate for reproductive health access. She also led the Policy Student Government Association (PSGA) as undergraduate president, working closely with faculty and staff to make decision-making processes more transparent and inclusive.

At her Malala Fund internship, Fleischmann supported international campaigns for girls’ education. On Capitol Hill, as a legislative intern in the office of U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, she has a front-row seat to the policy process, helping constituents navigate federal programs and contributing to research and briefings. Most recently, Fleischmann interned for the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama and later returned as a consultant, supporting operations, scheduling and correspondence. She also worked with the National Council of Jewish Women, where she deepened her understanding of grassroots advocacy and gained experience mobilizing communities around reproductive rights and gender equity. “Whether I’m working in advocacy, government or nonprofits, I’m committed to using my voice to push for bold reforms, expand opportunity and challenge injustice,” she shared.

That commitment also shaped her approach to policy innovation. Fleischmann sees entrepreneurship not as a private-sector concept, but as a mindset for change. “We need to start asking bolder questions: What are the root problems? What do people actually need? And what new solutions could meet those needs more effectively than anything we’ve tried before?” she said.

Throughout her time at UMD, Fleischmann was recognized with several honors, including the Meghan Price Award for Leadership and Public Service, the Katherine McAdams Leadership Award for civic duty and empowering leadership, the Scholars Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Award and the Maryland Medallion Society. She is a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society and an alum of both the College Park Scholars: Public Leadership Program and the Rawlings Undergraduate Leadership Fellows Program.

For Fleischmann, it is the relationships she has built, and the voices she has helped amplify, that matter most. “The School of Public Policy gave me the space to grow, lead and learn how to turn values into action,” she said. “I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished here, but I also know I’m still at the beginning of a much longer journey. I’m excited to keep listening, learning and putting my all into improving the world, a little bit at a time.”