Purdue Calumet alumni is first female judge to serve in the Civil Division of the Lake Superior Court

"I valued the individual attention and assistance given to me and to my classmates by our professors at Purdue Calumet. They truly wanted us to be fully prepared for the challenges of our respective careers and to succeed in all our endeavors."

Purdue Calumet alumna Diane Kavadias Schneider is a judge of Indiana's Lake Superior Court. In fact, she is the first female judge to serve in the Civil Division of the Lake Superior Court. She was appointed judge by Indiana late Governor Frank O'Bannon in 2000.

"My career success is due to several factors," Schneider said. "The support of family, friends and the community, and a strong educational foundation has assisted me greatly throughout my career. The personal values instilled in me have prepared me for a career in public service and have allowed me to never forget my 'Region roots'."

She earned a bachelor's degree in English at Purdue Calumet in 1971 and a J.D. degree at Valparaiso University School of Law in 1982.

"Purdue Calumet delivered a quality education in a setting that was small enough to be user friendly, caring and nurturing," she said.

As judge, she presides over numerous types of civil cases filed in the Superior Court. Also, she has been active in numerous local, state and national professional and legal organizations.

"I valued the individual attention and assistance given to me and to my classmates by our professors at Purdue Calumet," she said. "They truly wanted us to be fully prepared for the challenges of our respective careers and to succeed in all our endeavors."

Following her admission to the bar, she served as a juvenile court administrator and hearing officer for seven years and then a magistrate in the County Division of the Lake Superior Court for seven years.

"Even though it was a commuter campus and there was no student activity center at the time, Purdue Calumet afforded opportunities for social activities," Schneider said. "I was a charter member of Theta Phi Alpha Sorority, and friendships made with my Purdue Calumet sorority sisters have endured to this day.

"I fondly recall time spent between classes in our 'student lounge,' consisting of a few tables and chairs, a jukebox and some vending machines. It is amazing to see how much the campus has changed."

Her community activities include assisting St. Margaret Mercy Health Care Centers in developing the first Volunteer Advocates for Seniors Program in Indiana.

According to Schneider, after graduating from Purdue Calumet, she taught language arts at the junior high level for eight years. Then, she became interested in employment and school law issues and decided to change careers, entering law school in 1979.

"The late Robert Nichols, professor of English at Purdue Calumet, was such a wonderful mentor to me. He was an outstanding educator who truly cared for his students."