Oral history interview with Arnold Schneider, October 12, 1990
Oral history interview with Arnold Schneider of the College of Business conducted by Tom Coyne on October 12, 1990. Arnold Schneider recalls his childhood, early work for the Great Northern Railroad, education at Iowa State Teachers College and a brief job as an accountant at the Ford Motor Company’s branch in Wisconsin. Arnold Schneider finished graduate school at the University of Iowa in 1936 and taught at the University of Southern California. He discusses teaching at a navy school in Toledo, OH, during World War 2 and reorganizing the training program. Arnold Schneider joined WMU in 1947 as head of the Department of Business Education. He discusses meeting Dr. Sangren, working with the initial five faculty members in the business department, and changes he made to the department. When WMU gained University status in 1956, the department was renamed the School of Business and Schneider was named dean. In 1969, still under his leadership, the school become the College of Business. He also oversaw the launch of the MBA degree program in both Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. He retired as dean of the college in 1974 remaining a member of the faculty until his retirement from WMU in 1979 after 32 years. He passed away in 2003.