Byron J. Schneider Associate professor 310D Wulling Hall schne003@umn.edu Phone: 612-624-2590 Fax: 612-624-3377 Mailing address: Dept. of Educational Policy and Administration 330 Wulling Hall University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455-0221

My interest is in youth development, a relatively new field that is becoming a growth area in educational administration. Colleagues around the world have pioneered practical and scholarly application in this field for a number of years. A rich tradition of youth work can be found in Scandinavia and nations of the British Commonwealth. I have worked in Europe, Africa and Asia to further develop leadership and youth development education world-wide.

I arrived at my present position with degrees from Washington University, Harvard and the University of Chicago. I spent 15 years as a public school teacher and high school principal and have been active in youth-serving organizations for more than 20 years. I directed the Minnesota 4-H program, led the youth policy education program at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and currently serve on the National Board of Campfire.

Within the department, I teach in the youth development leadership program, an individualized, experiential graduate program that prepares participants to work with and on behalf of young people. I also teach in the University’s undergraduate leadership program and graduate liberal studies programs.

My teaching, research and outreach efforts seek to create broad social cohesion in non-formal educational organizations and public policy to support them. The journals I subscribe to, Youth and Society, Urban Affairs and Youth Work, best represent the span of my professional interests.

Positive youth development is a key contributor to preparing children for their future and we must learn how to best encourage it. As Myles Horton once stated, "We can only learn from the experiences that we learn from."

Academic degrees

• Ph.D., 1975, University of Chicago, educational administration
• M.Ed., 1963, Harvard University, history and education
• A.B., 1959, Washington University, history and political science

Professional experience

1995-present: Associate professor of educational policy and administration, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota

1989-1995: Coordinator, Youth Policy Education Program, Minnesota Extension Service at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota

1981-1988: Director of Minnesota 4H Youth Development Programs, Minnesota Extension Service and associate professor, School of Social Work, Center for Youth Development and Research, University of Minnesota

1980-1981: Director of Emergency School Support, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1972-1980: Principal, Southwest Secondary School, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1970-1972: Principal, Fowell Junior High School, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1969-1970: Principal on Special Assignment, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1968-1969: Assistant to the Dean, Graduate School of Education and Department of Education, University of Chicago

1961-1963: Teacher, American Freedom Institute, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

1959-1966: Teacher, Clayton High School, Clayton, Missouri

Courses taught

Current professional and academic memberships

• President, Minnesota Council of CampFire
• Chairperson, The World of Difference
• President, Minnesota Coalition to Celebrate Our Differences

Past professional and academic memberships

• Chairperson, 4H Japan International Exchange Committee
• Trustee, Minnesota 4H Foundation
• President, "Public Schools Incentives, Inc."
• President, Minneapolis School Principals' Association and Administrators' Forum
• Trustee, "HIPPY" of Minnesota and Minneapolis "Childnet"
• Past Member, "KidsFirst" Board of Minneapolis Children's' Medical Center
• Governor's Council on Youth and Governor's Education Council
• National Network of Youth Practitioners, Commission on Resources for Youth, and Commission on Evaluation of Experiential Education
• Minneapolis Planning Council, Athletic Council, Vocational Education Council and Budget Council
• Minnesota Extension Executive Council
• Twin Cities' Youth Policy Forum, and the Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas

Collegiate and departmental assignments and activities

• Representative to the Board of MCEA
• Current Adviser to:
  20 M.Ed., 6 M.A., 6 Ed.D., and 6 Ph.D. candidates

Projects

• Minnesota Council CampFire Boys and Girls
  Development of Minnesota Council of CampFire strategic plan and organization of a CampFire Foundation.