Sport management alum turns passion for golf into successful career

Dean Schneider (Class of 2014) has been playing golf his entire life. The son of a high school golf coach, Schneider started playing the game at age 7, playing in summer tournaments and later joining the high school golf team in his hometown of West Union, Ohio. That earned him a golf scholarship at Morehead State, where he played on the team during his undergraduate years and served as a volunteer assistant coach while in graduate school, earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees in sport management. While in graduate school, Schneider was awarded an internship with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

"(I began) my internship at the LPGA in January 2014 and finished in April, and then a week later, I got offered a job," he said. "

Schneider is now the director of tournament business affairs for the LPGA. Over the summer, he traveled to Evian, France, and Belfast, Nothern Ireland, to work on the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) Handa World Invitational. The unique co-ed event allows men and women to compete together on the course at Galgorm Castle.

While in Europe, Schneider took some time off from his official duties to travel to Scotland, where he played at St. Andrew's, the world's first golf course, considered the sport's birthplace.

As a graduate student, Schneider worked closely with Dr. Michael Hypes, Dr. Julia Hypes, and Dr. Steven Chen and said they made him feel at home as an Eagle.

"Mr. And Mrs. Hypes did my orientation, and they were very welcoming and comforting," Schneider said. "I graduated with a class of 75, so coming from high school to college was a big step. I liked the fact that I wasn't just a number."

Schneider added he liked the small class sizes and personal attention he received while studying at MSU.

"Whether it was an issue with a homework assignment or a project or if I just wanted to go and talk to them, my professors' doors were always open, and they were always available. And I liked the fact that it was only 18 to 20 students in a classroom because we got to know one another."

To learn more about sport management programs at Morehead State, contact the School of Business Administration at 606-783-2090 or email cbt@moreheadstate.edu.