There is no doubt that students at Howard University will benefit from having access to Nikole Hannah-Jones and her deep well of knowledge and experience. But the truth is that people—young and not-so-young, students and no-longer-students—are already learning from the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist.

They are learning that it’s not enough to just be allowed to sit at the table. They are learning that the burden of fixing broken systems shouldn’t fall to those who have been hurt most by that brokenness. And they are learning that it’s okay to know—and declare—their worth.

College administrators are finding a variety of ways to bring a personal touch to their work on college campuses. Michael Lovell, president of Marquette University in Milwaukee, is known for inviting students to join him on his daily runs. Claudia Schrader of Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, New York, makes routine visits to incoming students outside their homes or workplaces.

These efforts at connecting with students—and being seen as more approachable and accessible—are all the more popular and appreciated at a time when many students say they feel isolated from their campuses.