McPherson College President Michael Schneider will share the story of how a small college in McPherson, KS, is making progress in building a brand and economic engine that will impact the state of Kansas. From cars and the future of driving to rural healthcare, with more than $1.6B in endowment commitments, McPherson College has set a new trajectory in higher education that will transform central Kansas over the next two decades.
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Michael Schneider started his first enterprise at age 7 – a museum in his bedroom. The museum ultimately closed its doors to the public. But years later, one of the collections on display – namely, (36) 1984 Topps Mark McGwire Olympic rookie cards – helped fund Michael’s education at McPherson College, where he graduated with honors in 1996.
Michael got his early career break when the partners at Summit Publishing invited him to run the company. Only halfway through his 20s, he found himself leading a company into the electronic commerce era. His list of life adventures has included earning an MBA from the University of Denver, a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, and supporting start-ups in everything from Internet services to renewable energy.
In 2002, Michael answered the call to return to his alma mater. Advancing quickly through several key administrative positions, he helped spearhead growth to all-time highs in both charitable giving and enrollment. When Michael was named president in 2009, he was the youngest college president in the United States.
Michael’s passionate vision to lift up liberal arts through an entrepreneurial mindset has sparked the imagination of the entire campus. McPherson’s commitment to debt-free education and post-graduation placement rates is an important part of the student experience. During his tenure, job and graduate school placement rates have led the nation, while average debt per student at graduation is one of the lowest of any four-year college in Kansas. With niche degree programs such as automotive restoration and engineering as well as rural healthcare management, McPherson is reinventing itself as a significant contributor in higher education. McPherson College garnered recent notoriety for having a student-restored 1953 Mercedes Benz 300S win 2nd in the Post War Luxury Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, the most prestigious car show in the world, and for securing a $1 billion endowment commitment , which is one of the largest philanthropic commitments in the history of higher education. One of Michael’s favorite accomplishments is McPherson College being named in the Chronicle of Higher Education as a “Great College to Work For,” twelve consecutive years.
Since becoming president, Michael has served the higher education community as board chair of the Associated Colleges of Central Kansas, Kansas Campus Compact, Kansas Independent College Association and Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference; as executive committee member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; and as national advisory board member for Future Business Leaders of America and Distributive Education Clubs of America.
Michael and his wife, Kandee, met as students at McPherson College. They have two daughters, Hayden and Perrin, and a blue 1966 Pontiac named Ruth.
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