David Shein: Leading Change in Higher Education

"“I was a first-generation college student before we knew what that meant,” he says. “I didn't have a roadmap.” That early experience shaped his career. It gave him a clear focus. He wanted to make college easier to navigate for others."

"“I worked closely with faculty and administrators to build connective tissue across academic and student affairs,” he says. That idea of “connective tissue” became central to his work. He saw that many students struggled not because of ability, but because systems were disconnected."

"In 1999, Shein joined Bard College. He was hired to create a writing and tutoring center. He also became the college's first disability support provider. From the start, he focused on building structures, not just programs. Over time, he took on leadership roles, includ"

David Shein began college without a roadmap as a first-generation student. Early work and school activities built discipline and independence, while studies in philosophy and political science shaped his focus on systems and ideas. During graduate school, he worked at Lehman College as Coordinator of the Core Curriculum and led a tutoring center, working with faculty and administrators to connect academic and student affairs. He identified that many students struggled due to disconnected systems rather than lack of ability. In 1999, he joined Bard College to create a writing and tutoring center and became the first disability support provider, emphasizing structures that scale support for students.

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