Caleb Warren '29, History

When the Campus Theatre's Instagram Reel promoting The Princess Bride and the theatre's Riot in the River Film Festival climbed past 41,000 views, Caleb Warren '29 felt a surge of satisfaction. Now that the campaign has wrapped, his total view count across multiple platforms is approaching 500,000.

The history major had spent the afternoon shooting behind-the-scenes clips of the theatre's lobby, adding captions and music and carefully curating content in line with recent social media trends for maximum impact.

In just seven months as its social media manager, Warren has transformed the theatre's social media presence, built a dedicated digital fan base, and breathed new energy into the historic downtown Lewisburg venue.

"I think my reels just kind of reestablished our place on the algorithm," he says. "I've been here for about seven months or so, and now an average post to Instagram or Facebook is getting probably close to about 5,000 views."

Caleb Warren '29 has helped grow the Campus Theatre's digital audience through creative social media campaigns. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

Warren, originally from Bakersfield, Calif., came to Bucknell with a background in social media and marketing, as well as an appreciation for the cinema and theatre.

For Warren, the role has become central to his Bucknell experience. "I get a free membership, free popcorn, and I get to work in this beautiful space every day," he says. "I would love to keep working here for the rest of my time at Bucknell and really continue building the theatre's social media presence."

He has found support from his co-workers, especially through the guidance of Executive Director Laura Knorr. "Growing up in a single-parent household, and now being so far away from home, it's nice to know that I have a family here," Warren says. "That has made me feel welcome, not just at Bucknell, but in Lewisburg too."

An Impact at Bucknell and Beyond

Warren's primary goal in his college search was to attend a small, liberal arts college on the East Coast in order to be near his siblings, who live in New York City and Washington, D.C.

"I selected Bucknell because of the sheer amount of resources available to students that most liberal arts schools just do not have and the generous financial aid package I received," he says. "The campus tour was the cherry on top."

That early sense of fit has been reinforced during his time on campus. After his first year, Warren was recognized with the Class Award of Excellence as part of the Leadership & Inclusive Excellence Awards, honoring his early and sustained engagement across the Bucknell community.

He says his decision feels right. "I think I've really found my place here," he says.

Warren's involvement across campus includes serving as vice president of the World Cooking Club and practices with the women's basketball team, where he assists with scouting and game preparation. A former varsity basketball player in high school, Warren missed the sport when he arrived at Bucknell.

Long term, Warren envisions himself teaching high school history and coaching basketball in Oregon. "My goal is to one day be a teacher who coaches," he says. "Oregon has some of the best K-12 funding and policies. I want to be able to set my students up for success."

He has built strong connections with professors along the way. "Certain professors will personally reach out and say, 'Hey Caleb, I'm going to this event — you should come.' Those are opportunities first-year students at other schools probably aren't getting," he says.

These connections have shaped his own approach to mentorship on campus. Warren has been elected as a mentor in the TEAM program through Multicultural Student Services. He will also help lead RAMP Up!, the Pre-Orientation program he participated in.

He is also planning to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain as part of an Integrated Perspectives course in the College of Arts & Sciences. The opportunity grew out of his involvement in the Humanities Residential College and his connection with Professor Brantley Gasaway, religious studies, who co-leads the trip.

Warren says Bucknell has given him both community and direction. "At Bucknell, there's someone for everyone," he says. "There's some kind of group, some kind of club. The academics are strong, and the professors are wonderful. I've found my people here."