Bio


Prior to assuming the role of Assistant Director of the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions at the Hoover Institution in 2023, Tom served as a Lecturer and Senior Advisor on Civic Education at the Deliberative Democracy Lab, within the Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Tom came to Stanford in 2009 and has served as the Associate Vice Provost for Education, the Executive Director of the Haas Center for Public Service, and a Resident Fellow in Branner Hall, where he and his wife oversaw the development and implementation of a living-learning community focused on public service and civic engagement. In 2015, Tom coordinated the launch of Cardinal Service, a university wide effort to elevate and expand public service as a distinctive feature of the Stanford experience, and he has launched and led several national initiatives focused on democratic engagement and social change education.

Prior to coming to Stanford in 2009, Tom served as the Dean for Community Engagement and Civic Learning at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and was the founding Executive Director of Wisconsin Campus Compact. Tom began his career as the first service-learning coordinator at the University of Southern Mississippi. During his eight years in Mississippi, Tom coordinated statewide academic-community partnerships, including several large AmeriCorps programs focused on educational equity and environmental sustainability, and launched the Mississippi Center for Community and Civic Engagement.

Tom’s personal vision is to connect people with themselves, each other, and the earth in ways that contribute to the common good and build a more perfect union. His work in higher education focuses on democratic engagement, and place-based and experiential learning that fosters civic identity and the capacity to engage constructively across differences. He has extensive experience creating university-community partnerships and his experiences span geographic, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries. Tom received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan, and Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Current Role at Stanford


Dr. Schnaubelt serves as the Assistant Director of the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions.

Education & Certifications


  • Certificate, Harvard University, Management and Leadership in Education (2007)
  • PhD, University of Mississippi, Education (2001)
  • MA, University of Michigan, Education (1995)
  • BS, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Physics (1990)

Work Experience


  • Executive Director & Assistant Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Stanford University/Haas Center for Public Service (4/1/2009)

    Location

    562 Salvatierra Walk, Stanford, CA 94305

  • Dean for Community Engagement & Civic Learning, University of Wisconsin-Parkside (2005 - 2009)

    Location

    Kenosha, Wisconsin

  • Executive Director, Wisconsin Campus Compact (2003 - 2005)

    Location

    Kenosha, Wisconsin

  • Director, Mississippi Center for Community and Civic Engagement (2000 - 2003)

    Location

    Hattiesburg, Mississippi

  • Director of Academic Service Programming, Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (1996 - 2000)

    Directed two statewide AmeriCorps programs, Learn and Serve America grants, and an AmeriCorps*VISTA project.

    Location

    Jackson, Mississippi, USA

  • Service Learning Coordinator, University of Southern Mississippi (1995 - 1996)

    Location

    Hattiesburg, Mississippi