Arthur A. Schulte, Jr., PhD '90 Hon

Arthur A. Schulte, Jr., who served the University of Portland with great distinction for 45 years, arrived on The Bluff in 1958 as an accounting professor. Dr. Schulte, as he was known to generations of students and colleagues, quickly moved through the campus ranks. He served as the dean of the business school and graduate school, executive and financial vice president, special assistant to the president, and acting president – the only lay person to serve in this role – on two separate occasions.

He is not just remembered for the positions he held, but for the work he did, especially during the tumultuous times of the early 1970s. His tenacity and financial acumen were key factors in the helping the University successfully transition from being deep in debt in 1971 to fiscally sound by 1975.

Over the years, Schulte received the American Accounting Association’s Scholarly Article of the Year Award; the University’s Culligan Award, the highest honor bestowed upon faculty; and an honorary doctorate, becoming the first person to receive this award from the University while working for the institution.