Irving Schneider, Ph.D. '12

President - Providence Campus
Johnson & Wales University

Award Profile

Courageous Thinking and Actions
Dr. Schneider has been a courageous leader in the pursuit of excellence in the public and private sectors of education. His involvement and dedication as a member of the PK-16 council during his time as chairman of the Association of Independent Schools and Colleges was critical in the effort to raise the quality of education in Rhode Island public schools. In
his first year as campus president, he required all Johnson & Wales University (JWU) schools and colleges “adopt” a low performing public school as part of the Partnerships for Success initiative. As a result, many strong relationships have been fostered between faculty and
administration to support the work of increasing the quality and diversity of opportunity open to the youth of Rhode Island.

Vision and Innovation
As the president of the Providence Campus, Dr. Schneider understands the importance of programs such as Junior Achievement. He has grown JWU’s involvement with JA by involving his President’s Leadership Council members in support of the programs and sending administrators, faculty and students into classrooms across the state. He also provided financial support to these programs, bringing middle school students to the Johnson & Wales campus, creating opportunities for educational experiences that were not previously available.

Inspiring Leadership
Dr. Schneider is a highly respected leader in the field of education, the JWU campus system, as well as in the business sector of our state. Always known to “walk the talk,” he leads by example. His leadership has inspired and supported wide spread community service programs. His own personal dedication to the boards on which he serves is exemplary. His leadership has inspired many others in positions of influence and authority to also bring their resources to the table to build solutions to the problems facing Rhode Island today.

Community Mindedness
Dr. Schneider believes that community service is critical to the accomplishment of a well-rounded lifestyle and has been a major influence in the growth of community service on the JWU campuses. He expects community involvement not only from the student body, but
from the faculty and staff as well. Under his leadership, JWU has been listed on the President’s Honor Role for Community Service since its inception in 2006 under President Bush. Additionally, in 2007, JWU was awarded the President’s Honor Role for Community Service with Distinction. The University also holds the Carnegie Classification for Curricular Engagement, as well as for Outreach and Partnership. During his tenure, community service leadership training for JWU faculty and students was instituted. In the 2009/10 academic year alone, JWU students at the Providence Campus performed over 100,000 hours of community service at non-profit organizations across the region.

JA Mission Moment
In addition to his duties as a member of the JA Board, each year Dr. Schneider sets aside a day to present JA In-A-Day to a class of fifth graders. It is something he looks forward to each year and he has always felt that he learned more than the students. This commitment epitomizes his dedication and support of Junior Achievement and its mission. JA has long been one of his favorite community experiences, and one that he will continue to carry in his heart long after retirement.