President’s Office

Strategic Plan

Community by Design 2.0

The McPherson College culture is integrated into four strategic initiatives in the 2024-2034 Strategic Plan: Academic Program Growth Mindset, East McPherson, Wellness and Inclusion, and $1B Endowment.

Read more about these initiatives on the Strategic Plan page.

Entrepreneurship

“How do we give liberal arts value? We’re going to lift it up through the entrepreneurial mindset, because we want our graduates to be enterprising and perceptive.” – President Michael Schneider

McPherson College believes the classic concept of liberal arts is intimately tied to the modern idea of entrepreneurship and strives to weave the concepts of entrepreneurship across the curriculum and student life, regardless of a student’s chosen major.

This idea transcends any one department, giving students the room to experiment and explore – while still landing on their feet. McPherson College students discover that the only failure is the failure to learn.

About President Schneider

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 information technology to green 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 one of the youngest college presidents 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 the lowest of any four-year college in Kansas. With niche degree programs such as automotive restoration and 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,” nine consecutive years with honor roll recognition in more categories than any other college in the country.

Since becoming president, Michael has served the higher education community as board chair of the Associated Colleges of Central Kansas, Kansas Campus Compact, and Kansas Independent College Association; 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 have two daughters, Hayden and Perrin, and a blue 1966 Pontiac named Ruth.

MC Press Releases

Fieldhouse expansion exterior

Bulldog Athletic Facilities Get New Name

The center of Bulldog athletic activity has a new name – Holman Fieldhouse. The renaming marks the completion of a major renovation and addition to the former Sport Center and […]

McPherson College Ranks In U.S. News & World Report “Best College” List

For the ninth consecutive year, McPherson College has earned recognition by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 “Best Colleges” list for Regional Colleges in the Midwest. This year, […]

McPherson College “Great” For Ten Years!

McPherson College named on 2024 Great Colleges to Work For with honor roll distinction.   McPherson College is a great place to work, according to a new survey by the […]

Path to Pebble screen capture.

“The Path To Pebble” Available To Watch Now

“The Path to Pebble,” a documentary chronicling the incredible story of McPherson College’s decade-long journey to compete at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is now available for the public to […]

The Path to Pebble documentary

TV Legend Jay Leno Narrates McPherson College’s Historic Finish At Pebble Beach Concours D’elegance

McPherson College announced today that legendary television host and comedian Jay Leno will narrate “The Path to Pebble,” a documentary that tells the incredible story of McPherson College’s decade-long journey […]

2024 incoming freshmen class

McPherson College Welcomes Largest Freshman Class In History Of School

McPherson College marked a significant milestone as it welcomed the largest incoming class in its history when fall semester classes began on August 21. The college enrolled 319 first-time freshmen, […]

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran visits with McPherson College President Michael Schneider outside of the construction site for the new Campus Commons.

Senator Moran Inspects Construction Of Landmark Structure At McPherson College

In less than a year, McPherson College will open the doors to its new 55,000-square-foot landmark structure at the entrance to campus. The Campus Commons, currently under construction, is the […]

Senator Jerry Moran Secures $2.1 Million for McPherson College’s Rural Health Initiative

Senator Jerry Moran announced he has secured $2.1 million in new, congressionally directed funding for McPherson College during a news conference on campus June 27, 2024. The federal funds will […]

McPherson College Announces Spring Horizon Fund Grant Recipients

For more than a decade, McPherson College has been encouraging the entrepreneurial ideas of its students by awarding mini-grants that help students develop innovative solutions to common problems. With more […]

President Schneider Receives Distinguished Alumni Award From University Of Pennsylvania

Dr. Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College, recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Higher Education Management Executive Doctoral program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. […]