LISLE, Ill - Sept. 16, 2025 - Veronica "Ronnie" Schreiber never planned on being a teacher. After earning her master's in mathematics from the University of Arizona, she set her sights on returning home to Pennsylvania for a research role at Bell Labs. But just days before classes began, she was offered a teaching assistantship at Arizona instead.
"I was terrified," she recalled of her first class — a 250-seat lecture hall where she was barely older than her students. "But from the first moment, I loved it."
That unexpected pivot set her on a lifelong path. Now, 50 years later, Schreiber is being celebrated as the longest-serving faculty member at DeVry University, where she's taught generations of students since 1975.
"I feel honored because I'm doing something I just love to do," she said. "Being recognized for it is icing on the cake. It's one of the biggest accomplishments of my life."
Her DeVry journey began with a test lecture at the Phoenix campus — and a full-time offer that changed everything. "In just one day, your whole life can be different," she said. "That's where I met my husband. That's where we built our family."
Originally from West Reading, Pennsylvania, Schreiber built her career — and her home — in Arizona. She and her husband, Jim, who taught electronics at DeVry for four decades, raised their children, Scott and Julie, while teaching. Jim retired in 2012, the same year their son, Scott, graduated from Keller Graduate School, making his parents proud as they participated in his hooding ceremony.
"My kids were pretty much DeVry kids growing up," she said. "Jim and I were always able to schedule our classes in a way that one of us was home. We never needed babysitters — DeVry made that possible."
Schreiber also holds a unique place in DeVry's history as one of its first female faculty members, a distinction she carried with quiet pride as she built a career in a male-dominated field. Her presence and persistence helped pave the way for more women in STEM and in the classroom.
Known for her warmth, consistency and mastery of math, Schreiber teaches beginning and college algebra today, though she spent many years in the electronic engineering program teaching pre-calculus and the full calculus sequence. She's also been at the forefront of educational shifts — from chalkboards to AI — and helped pioneer virtual classrooms alongside longtime friend and colleague Rick Bird, a senior professor with DeVry's College of Engineering and Information Sciences.
"I could have a student in Phoenix start a math problem, and a student in Chicago finish it," she added. "It was amazing to witness, and it brought us all together in new ways."
Bird said watching Schreiber teach is an experience in empathy and expertise.
"Some students are literally afraid of math when they start," he noted. "Ronnie gives them words of encouragement and genuinely helps them push through that fear. She is so warm and caring that it's easy to see why students love her."
Schreiber's legacy isn't just her longevity — it's the impact she's had on students, many of whom stay in touch long after graduation.
"She treats each student like they're her only student," said John MacCatherine, Ph.D.,Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning. "That often means working well beyond normal hours. Ronnie helps students develop the confidence they need, not just to succeed in her class, but throughout their academic journey."
Through it all, Schreiber has remained grounded in purpose and passion. Her secret? Love what you do, stay flexible and never stop learning — even from your students.
"If you treat students with respect and patience, they'll return the same to you," she added. "And don't be afraid to ask for help. You're never above asking questions."
This fall, she and Jim are preparing their home to welcome their second grandchild. But she's not slowing down. Teaching, after all, is still fun.
"I think you get where you're meant to somehow," she said. "That's what these 50 years have shown me."
