By Michelle Babcock

New endowment honors mentorship, global learning, and the experiences that shape a life.

Susan Schlein 75C and her husband Robert Schlein have spent countless hours welcoming newly admitted Emory students and their families in the Houston, Texas, area. Each winter, after early decision admissions notifications are released, they reach out to incoming students, meeting them over coffee or dinner to answer questions, calm anxieties, and help them imagine what life at Emory might look like.

(Robert Schlein and Susan Schlein 75C)

“I tell them Emory is all about finding your passion,” she says. “And your passion will carry you through the rest of your life.”

During those experiences, Susan and her husband have seen generations of students arrive at Emory eager to make a difference. Their own daughter, Deborah Schlein 13C, PhD, has been among them.

“Watching the effect Emory had on our daughter was incredible,” Susan says. “It changed her career goals and helped her achieve those goals.”

Deborah wasn’t sure what she wanted to study at first. Like many first-year students, she was exploring possibilities, leaning toward history but open to new directions. Then she met Gordon Newby, PhD, who at the time was chair of the Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies Department (MESAS) and her faculty adviser.

“Gordon Newby welcomed me into Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies as if it was the most logical conclusion for me, a new first year undergrad with lots of historical interests and a nascent thought of learning Arabic,” Deborah says.

She had excelled in Spanish language courses in high school, and during an advising conversation brought up a curiosity about speaking Arabic. Dr. Newby encouraged her to explore the language, so she enrolled in Arabic courses, took an introductory Middle Eastern Studies class, and quickly discovered that the subject that captivated her.

“He helped her find her path in life,” Susan says. “She was hooked.”

Deborah developed close relationships with faculty members who challenged, encouraged, and supported her as her interests deepened. Before long, she had decided to major in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, with Dr. Newby continuing as her adviser.

“I never questioned that I belonged because he and his colleagues in the MESAS department were incredibly supportive, interested in the questions I asked, and willing to walk me through queries I sometimes came up with out of nowhere,” Deborah says.

At Dr. Newby’s encouragement, Deborah spent a summer studying Arabic in Morocco through a study abroad program at Al Akhawayn University in the Atlas Mountains.

“He talked to her about studying abroad, and she ended up taking her third year of Arabic in Morocco. It was a wonderful experience for her,” Robert says.

The experience strengthened her Arabic skills, broadened her perspective, and deepened her interest in the region she was studying.

“Studying Arabic abroad in Morocco opened up my worldview about how people experienced the world around them, locally and globally,” Deborah says. “Before my summer study abroad experience, I hadn’t spent much time outside of the United States, but the time I spent in Morocco taught me to be more open to new experiences, to learning from people I would not have otherwise had the chance to meet, and to take bigger steps outside of my comfort zone.”

For the Schleins, the impact was unmistakable.

“I want future students to have a similar experience,” Susan says. “I hope studying abroad helps them crystallize what they want to do as a career.”

The cost, however, can be significant.

“We know firsthand how much it can cost, especially for students who study in locations that require long-distance travel,” Robert says. 

This reality inspired the couple to make a gift that will help Emory students pursue study abroad opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. The family’s appreciation for Dr. Newby’s mentorship runs so deep that they chose to include his name in the newly established endowment.

The Schlein-Newby MESAS Experiential Learning Award Endowment will help students who want to participate in study abroad experiences but may face financial barriers. The gift is both a tribute to the department that changed their daughter’s life and a way to ensure future students have access to similarly life-shaping opportunities.

Years later, when Deborah was considering graduate school and preparing for a highly competitive admissions process, Dr. Newby was there to offer guidance. His confidence in her abilities made a lasting impression.

Deborah was admitted directly into Princeton University’s doctoral program in Near Eastern Studies, becoming the only incoming PhD student in her cohort without a master’s degree. Her academic journey eventually took her to India, where she conducted dissertation research as a Fulbright scholar.

“Without his encouragement from day one, I am confident my own academic and professional paths would look very different, and I’m grateful to him for his support,” Deborah says.

When she earned her PhD from Princeton, Gordon and Wendy Newby — who had both recently retired from Emory — attended the ceremony. Today she serves as Near Eastern Studies Librarian at Princeton, where she works with scholarly materials and manuscripts spanning multiple languages and cultures. She recently earned tenure and continues to publish and contribute to her field.

Looking back, Robert sees a direct connection to the conversation with Dr. Newby that started it all and says their daughter’s experience in Morocco cemented her passion. “It decided her path,” he says. 

By helping students offset the costs of studying abroad, the Schleins hope to make transformative experiences accessible to more MESAS students, regardless of financial circumstances. Their gift recognizes that a single semester, a summer abroad, or even a few months immersed in another culture can alter the course of a person’s life. And soon, thanks to the Schlein-Newby MESAS Experiential Learning Award Endowment, these experiences may do the same for future generations of Emory students.

“As our daughter blossomed at Emory,” Susan says, “we saw firsthand the nurturing, guidance, and support she received. We want other students to have the opportunity to flourish, too.”

Emory's Advancement & Alumni Engagement team spotlights members of the Emory community who embody the university's mission and honors the supporters whose generosity makes it possible. Know someone we should write about? Tell us.