Women Who Lead: Paige Swanstein, Championing Student-Centered Solutions

In this episode, I talk with Paige Swanstein, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Student Basic Needs Coalition (SBNC), a national nonprofit working to end food, housing, and healthcare insecurity among college students. SBNC bridges technology, policy, and student leadership to drive systemic change — and has already connected students to over $27 million in SNAP and Medicaid benefits across 500 campuses nationwide.

Paige shares how SBNC’s programs, peer navigators, and policy advocacy efforts are helping restore the balance of power so students are included in creating solutions to basic needs insecurity. We also talk about how this work is shifting the conversation in higher education toward equity, well-being, and shared responsibility.

This episode is a powerful reminder that when students are part of the solution, change becomes not just possible, but unstoppable.

If you want to learn more or get involved, visit the Student Basic Needs Coalition: https://www.studentbasicneeds.com

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sbnc