Prague native is making no little plans for online education at Marquette
Dr. David Schejbal (“SKAY-ble”) counts Jimmy Stewart among his favorite actors, and one can probably attribute David’s educational philosophy to a quote by the silver screen legend: “Never treat your audience as customers, always as partners.”
A native of Prague, Czech Republic, Marquette’s chief of digital learning is forging partnerships across campus and beyond to develop and launch an ambitious initiative to extend access to a Marquette education by adding new online programs, expanding offline locations and increasing online course options for current students.
David recently sat down with Marquette Today to talk a bit about travel, his love of fishing and why his parents are his heroes.
Age: 58
Hometown: Evanston, Illinois
Family: My better half, Judee, and two elderly parents. We used to have a 100-lb. lab that was child-like, but we lost him two years ago.
Holy mackerel! Shejbal with a fresh catch.
Hobbies and interests: I enjoy fishing (but not crazy Wisconsin ice fishing), woodworking, hiking and movies.
Favorite movies: I love Jimmy Stewart movies because Jimmy always shows the troubled side of the good guy; Robert Redford movies because I’ve never seen a bad Redford flick; and Meryl Streep movies because Meryl makes suspension of disbelief effortless.
Heroes: My parents. They survived Nazi occupation, Soviet occupation and made it to the U.S. in 1968.
Favorite quotes/mottos: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.” —Daniel Burnham.
Currently reading: Anything by either Jonathan Kellerman or Robert Crais. I drive a lot, and their mystery novels make for great listening.
Favorite vacation spots: Everglades City, Florida; Lake Powell, Utah; Greece; Italy; Czech Republic; South Africa.
Chief of Digital Learning David Schejbal, left, with fishing buddies.
Biggest career learning experience: My “aha” moment in graduate school was when I recognized that all disciplines are ongoing conversations. As a university administrator, I discovered that to understand higher education you must understand the world outside of higher ed.
Fun facts: I am the only child of two only children. I was born in Prague.