wfn.org | Newsline: Michael Schneider named as new president of McPherson College

[cobnews <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service -- Feb. 26, 2009
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director
800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org

MICHAEL SCHNEIDER NAMED AS NEW PRESIDENT OF McPHERSON COLLEGE

(Feb. 26, 2009) Elgin, IL -- Michael Schneider has been chosen by the McPhe rson College Board of Trustees as the 14th president of the college. He cur rently is vice president of Advancement and Admissions for McPherson.

McPherson College is a Church of the Brethren school located in McPherson,  Kan.

Craig Little, chair of the board of McPherson College, expressed appreciati on to the search committee, consultant Tom Scheye, the campus community, al umni, and members of the Church of the Brethren for their efforts on behalf  of the selection process. "Nearly 50 applications were sorted down to four  finalists and making the final decision was not an easy one. I have great  belief in the collective wisdom of the trustees and the search committee an d think we made a great choice."

Schneider holds a master of business administration from the University of  Denver and a bachelor of science in communication from McPherson. He has wo rked for the college for the past seven years, starting as director of care er services, then vice president of advancement, and adding the vice presid ent of admissions role in 2007. In his current role, he is responsible for  student enrollment, fundraising and annual giving, alumni relations, market ing, and career services. Through his leadership, the 2008 incoming class e xceeded 500--the highest number in 30 years. In addition, the "myMC" campai gn, which was completed in July 2008, raised $9 million--more than a millio n dollars over the original goal. The total number of donors to the college  has increased by 20 percent during Schneider's time with McPherson.

Schneider also serves as board member and general partner in two outside co mpanies: KESK, Inc., a small company that invests in start-up businesses in  the energy sector; and Sunflower Wind, LLC., a privately-held wind turbine  manufacturing company. He is an active member of the McPherson Community E ducation Foundation Board of Directors and is heavily involved in leadershi p committees at First United Methodist Church of McPherson.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in  community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts more than 125,000 members across the  United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nig eria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org