Eric C. Schneider, assistant dean and associate director for academic affairs and adjunct professor of history in the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, died on March 22 after a struggle with cancer. He was 66 years old.

Dr. Schneider earned a BA in history from Fordham University in 1972, an MA in American history from Boston University in 1974 and a PhD in American history from Boston University in 1980.

He joined Penn in 1987 as assistant dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. He also taught as a lecturer in the urban studies program in 1989; as adjunct assistant professor in the American civilization department from 1990-1994; and then became an adjunct assistant professor in the department of history in 1994.

In 1998 he also became associate director for academic affairs in the College of Arts & Sciences.

He previously held administrative positions with the Delaware Humanities Forum in Wilmington and the American History Workshop in Brooklyn, New York; and teaching positions at Rutgers University, University of Delaware and Boston University.

Dr. Schneider was the author of several books, and received the Kenneth Jackson Award for Best Book in North American History from the Urban History Association for "Smack: Heroin and the American City" (Almanac December 8, 2009).

He is survived by his wife, Janet Golden, and sons, Alex and Ben.

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