Drew University student Zaire Wright on his semester in D.C.
May 2026 – Extroverted by nature, Zaire Wright C’27 doesn’t wait for opportunities. He seeks them out.
A junior political science major from Jersey City, Wright has been involved at Drew University since his first year. He’s built a reputation as someone who makes the most of every experience.
“I’ve been involved since day one,” he said. “Honestly, I think those opportunities are one of the biggest selling points with Drew. Your education and your experience is what you make it, because the chances to get involved at Drew are there and they are accessible.”
His list of extracurriculars reflects that mindset. Wright served as a senator in Student Government as a first-year and sophomore student before ultimately becoming president. He is also a founder and member of the Drew University Gospel Choir and serves as Chief Logistics Manager of the University’s Black Student Union.
So when he learned he could spend a semester studying in Washington, D.C., the decision was easy.
“I just always wanted to go to D.C.,” he said. “When I saw that the opportunity was going to be available, I just went for it.”
While Drew’s flagship study-away programs give students a chance to go to London or NYC, the University is also affiliated with Global Partners—educational programs selected by Drew based on their high academic and administrative quality—to expand opportunities across the globe. Through a partnership with American University, Drew students are able to study in D.C.
Wright is one of two Drew students participating in the Washington Semester Program this spring, and he’s fully immersed himself in the experience, living in an apartment in the city, navigating the metro to class, and attending D.C. City Hall hearings for his internship. He describes the experience as a crash course in adulthood.
“I’m getting a perspective on what life will look like in a few years when things get really serious,” he said.
That learning extends beyond the classroom.
From visiting the Supreme Court to meeting the speechwriters for Bill Clinton and Jill Biden, D.C. Councilmembers, and Congressional Chiefs of Staff, Wright has taken full advantage of the access that comes with being in the nation’s capital. One of his most “D.C. moments” came when visiting the Capitol.
“It was everything I thought it was going to be,” he said. “When I walked in, I was just like, ‘Wow! This is where it all happens.’ I had such a proud American feeling.”
For Wright, the legislative process and the possibility of making a difference are what drew him to politics and policy making in the first place. And this passion is evident when he talks. His face lights up and his tone becomes animated.
“I just think it’s so interesting how people can be either passionately for or against something, and then, ultimately, they have to work together to make it work so that it can become law. That entire process, even though it can be depressing at times and there can be a lot of different emotions, is good,” he said.
“There is just a beauty in seeing an idea become actual practice.”
In addition to taking classes at American University, Wright is also interning in the external affairs department at Jubilee Housing Incorporated, an organization focussed on affordable housing in the District. He attends D.C. City Hall hearings, meets with residents, government officials, and other stakeholders, researches legislation and policy, and drafts public testimony for his boss.
“I’ve never written a statement for someone to read in front of government officials and that’s literally a big part of what I’m doing now,” he said.
This type of hands-on immersive education is what Drew is known for and what students can expect, whether they are studying in The Forest, or at a partner program around the world.
