In the beginning, Columbus, Neb. native Matt Worley ’99 admits he was a little intimidated by Dr. Paul Schneider, Dana College Theater director.

“Our relationship in the first year and a half I was at Dana was always professional,” Worley said. “Strictly student-professor. After that, though, when we got to know each other better, a friendship began to develop.”

That’s the real strength of Dana College, according to Schneider. It’s more than professors knowing all their students’ names. It’s that every student can form a meaningful, supportive relationship with Dana faculty, staff and fellow students. These relationships don’t have a four-year expiration date. For many, they last a lifetime.

“At first, I thought Matt was just somebody who needed developing,” Schneider said. “His acting was great, but his vocal performance wasn’t very strong. But Matt is like a Marine. If you tell him he needs to improve, he does it.”

Schneider believes that faculty can make a powerful impact on students if they put their whole hearts into working with them. He tells students when he thinks they can do better. He also tells students when he thinks they are doing well.

“I started coming early to acting class and leaving late so that I could talk to (Schneider) about acting, theater and how I could improve,” Worley said. “We fed off of each other’s enthusiasm for the work, both in class and during rehearsals. Somewhere in here is where he became my most important mentor.”

After graduation, Worley had several offers to become a music teacher. He turned them down to pursue an acting career, but was rejected by the graduate schools he applied to. Schneider kept up his support and helped him prepare a new audition for the next year. Worley was accepted to several programs the second year, and ended up studying at the prestigious American Conservatory of Theater in San Francisco. He’s now a working actor in New York City.

“I guarantee Dana made Matt who he is,” Schneider said. “Put together the faculty and his fellow students with his great work ethic and he has a promising future.”

Worley agrees. “The education at Dana is individual, professional and rewarding. I would attend Dana again in a second.”