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Math Competitions Expert Leo J. Schneider Dies

June 11, 2010 

Leo J. Schneider, one of the country's premier mathematical problem posers, died suddenly en route to Kansas City, where he was to participate in the annual reading and grading of the country's Advanced Placement Calculus tests. 

From 1974-1988, Schneider, who had joined the faculty of John Carroll University (JCU) in 1963, served as Ohio's regional exam coordinator for the American High School Mathematics Exam (AHSME). He had been appointed to the national American Mathematics Competitions Committee in 1980. During the period 1988-1994, when he chaired that committee, the scope of national competitions expanded to include competitions for junior high school students and students who scored highly on the AHSME.  

An active member of the Mathematical Association of America, Schneider was President of the MAA's Ohio Section of the MAA, and also served a three-year term as Governor of the Section. In 2004, he was awarded the Ohio Section's Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching. 

Schneider graduated from Xavier University in Cincinnati with both a bachelor's and a master's degree in mathematics. He earned his Ph.D. in mathematics at Case-Western Reserve University in 1971, having taken a two-year leave from JCU to complete his dissertation research in differential equations.

At John Carroll, he created a sequence of courses designed to prepare students for actuarial careers, and took a special interest in getting students to do their own research in mathematics and present talks at various conferences. After creating a mathematical speakers' bureau, he averaged twelve speaking engagements per year for a period of 8-10 years.

Source: John Carroll University

Image via JCU

Id: 
875
Start Date: 
Friday, June 11, 2010