Jon Schmidt comes to the School of Education from the Center for Experiential Learning at Loyola University where he managed academic service-learning. Prior to his work at Loyola, he served as the Manager of Democracy Education and Student Leadership for Chicago Public Schools from 2002–2014, coordinating service-learning, civic education, and student leadership initiatives throughout the District. The most recent initiative brought 28 high schools together with civic and community organizations to build and strengthen the civic mission and purpose of public high schools. Prior to his work at Chicago Public Schools, Jon founded and directed BOLD Chicago Institute, a non-profit dedicated to developing young leaders and engaging them in their communities.

Jon has long been interested in and worked toward building healthy and just communities through the strategies of organizing, development, and service. He is particularly interested in working with faculty and students to connect their academic work to the exciting and innovative work in our schools and communities across the city. Jon has dedicated his career to connecting young people to opportunities to develop their sense of identity and civic purpose and supporting their active engagement in ways that build the common good.