David Shein

David Shein is an educator, administrator, and independent educational consultant based in Red Hook, New York. His professional practice centers on making college accessible and meaningful for all students, particularly first-generation college students navigating higher education without a roadmap.

David began his career at Lehman College as Coordinator of the Core Curriculum and Director of Instructional Support Services while completing his doctoral studies. In 1999, he joined Bard College, where he worked for over 25 years in roles including Dean of Lower College Studies, Dean of Studies, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Student Success and Network Integration. He also served as William Lensing Senior Lecturer in the Humanities and taught in the Philosophy department and First Year Seminar program.

At Bard, he founded the Learning Commons and Disability Support Services, and co-founded the Center for Student Life & Advising. He helped secure accreditation for more than a dozen programs, launched the Clemente Course in the Humanities, which David directed and taught in two locations, provides free college-level humanities education to adults living on low incomes. The program offers 110 hours of instruction in literature, moral philosophy, American history, and art history, with tuition, books, childcare, and transportation fully subsidized. Under his guidance, many students won competitive post-graduate awards including Fulbright Scholarships.

The Clemente Course in the Humanities, which David co-directed, provides free college-level humanities education to adults living on low incomes. The program offers 110 hours of instruction in literature, moral philosophy, American history, and art history, with tuition, books, childcare, and transportation fully subsidized.

David retired from Bard College in February 2026 to launch an independent educational consulting firm. He received a Fulbright Scholarship in 2019 for contributions to international education.

He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, where his dissertation explored realism, anti-realism, and the success of science under Arnold Koslow and John Greenwood. He earned his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from SUNY Oswego with a double major in Philosophy and Political Science, receiving departmental awards in both fields.

David volunteers with his local public library and the Watershed Community Amphibian Migration Project, where he participates in amphibian rescue and watershed health data collection.

• Fulbright Scholarship, 2019, for contributions to international education

• PhD in Philosophy, Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, Dissertation: ‘Realism, Anti-Realism, and the Success of Science’ under Arnold Koslow and John Greenwood

• Local Public Library, volunteer in book sales and community engagement
• Watershed Community Amphibian Migration Project, volunteer in amphibian rescue and watershed health data collection