Jonathan Schwab

The true value of a college education lies not only in the acquisition of knowledge but in the journey of self-discovery and personal development. This understanding is central to the work done by Jonathan Schwab, Director of Student Life at Yeshiva University.

In today’s conversation, Jonathan sat down with The Interview Co-Host Max Webber to share his insights on issues ranging from the current challenge of fostering constructive dialogue across divides to the need for personalized engagement opportunities to build a sense of belonging.

Jonathan's Journey

Max: Let’s start with a brief introduction to yourself and your institution…

My name is Jonathan Schwab and I am the Director of Student Life at Yeshiva University. I studied here for my undergraduate degree, and I started working here right after graduation before leaving to do my degree in higher education administration. I returned to take up the role of Director of Student Life – it’s my dream job at my dream institution. We're a small private liberal arts university in New York City – we have two separate campuses for undergraduate men and women. We're a religious institution, and that's a key part of our identity and our students’ lives.

Max: What inspired you to pursue a career in Student Affairs? 

I'm really interested in the growth students go through while in college. For me, college was a great experience – I developed so much personally and gained a lot from it. So I love watching students go through the same transformation, not that it's always an easy one. Growth can be challenging. I did a lot of my graduate work in student affairs, so I got to see many sides of the student experience, from their first day on campus through to graduation. I get to have real conversations with them, and not only witness how they're growing but also to meaningfully contribute towards it. That’s what really keeps me going.

Max: What are the most important things to keep in mind when trying to create a sense of belonging for all students? 

Well, it’s important to acknowledge that engaging every student in all aspects of university life is impossible. We need to understand that engagement means something different for every person. That’s the key to helping people find their place on campus. There are more opportunities for involvement than any one student can take part in – so it's not about doing every single thing, but about finding the things that are right for you. For a lot of students, that might mean trying a lot of different things so they can narrow it down and discover the things they're truly passionate about. We put a lot of effort into avoiding scheduling conflicts, so students can attend everything that interests them. But ultimately, students are going to have to make those choices, and making those choices is a hugely important part of engaging and finding your interests.

‍Max: What’s your approach to engaging students on key issues outside of the classroom, such as mental health?

It’s definitely a huge challenge. All universities have limited resources, and the limits seem to have only increased in recent years. We're being asked to do more with less. But thinking optimistically, the one resource that we have a lot of is passionate students. One of our biggest events of the year is called Stomp Out the Stigma, which focuses on students talking about their own experiences with mental health. That event draws 700 students to come and listen to their peers speak. To build engagement, it’s crucial to find the most engaged students who can then bring other students in – the students respond really positively to that. When you build events that are student-centered, then students will show up in droves. 

‍Max: Free speech and protest have become contentious issues on college campuses. How can we encourage students to build constructive dialogue across difference?

I think it's the biggest challenge we’re facing right now. It’s changed a lot from when I was in college 10 or 15 years ago. One of the most critical skills college gives you is the ability to understand another person's perspective. You need to understand that there is an entire reality behind a person’s words and opinions. So it’s crucial that we help students to develop those skills. A lot of it comes down to just having those difficult conversations and finding those moments of disagreement or tension. That helps you really get down to the core of issues. We also need to understand that our current college students all missed a year or two of social interaction during the pandemic – that was a time of crucial development. That’s had a real effect, and we need to work hard to help them catch up. 

‍Max: These days, students have little free time, and many have commitments outside of their studies. How do you make sure students stay engaged with college life outside of the classroom?

First and foremost, you need to ensure there are different opportunities for them to get involved in different ways. If students are exposed to people who are different from them, it helps to build community and break down barriers. For example, if you are specializing in a very specific field, you might only usually interact with people on your course. But if you get involved with things outside of your usual experience, you’re going to learn more; if you’re studying engineering, there’s nothing stopping you from joining the dramatic society. One of the strengths of college is its ability to find people of different backgrounds and people who are on different trajectories and bring them together on common ground. So we’re thinking hard about how to offer more opportunities for those kinds of interactions, whether it’s through residence halls or student organizations.

‍Max: What’s the top piece of advice you’d give to anyone starting their career in Student Affairs?

Stop thinking about things in terms of mistakes. Everything is an opportunity to learn, even if you stumble along the way. Embrace the opportunities to learn more about yourself and about what you want from life – even if it doesn't always go smoothly.