Ask Steve Schnur ’96, ’97 MA (’25 P) about his connection to Northwestern, and it is all about relationships and Purple Pride. “My best friends to this day are the people I went to school with,” he says. And, he met his wife, Jennifer DeRoo Schnur ’97, on one of his first days on campus—though he jokes that it took two years before they went on their first date. After meeting Jennifer in a small-group advisory session, he found her contact info by looking her up in what he calls “the original Facebook,” a book with photo IDs for every student stored in the Bursar’s Office. One of their four children, Ellie, graduated from the University in 2025.
A football recruit who arrived at Northwestern from St. Louis, Schnur now considers himself a Chicagoan and is often back on campus supporting the University. As quarterback, he led the football team in the 1996 Rose Bowl game and to a pair of Big Ten titles in 1995 and 1996. He’s still active with the team as a mentor. And he also advises current students in the Northwestern Undergraduate Real Estate Club, sharing his expertise as the chief operating officer of CRG, a real estate development and investing firm.
Schnur’s volunteerism extends beyond the student body to his fellow alumni. When it came time for the 15th and 20th Reunions for the Class of 1996, Schnur volunteered as part of the class committee. Now, he is taking the lead as the 2026 National Homecoming and Reunion Chair, representing alumni across all milestone Reunion classes.
Schnur spoke with the Northwestern Alumni Association recently to look ahead to this year’s Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, October 9–11, 2026—and back on fond memories.
What stands out most from your undergraduate years?
Our class was fortunate to be there at a time when Northwestern Football had this amazing resurgence, a little reminiscent of what Indiana did this past year, in terms of how it captivated the nation and was the big story. The thing that is most memorable is the collective enthusiasm and pride in the school and the school spirit. Everybody felt part of it on campus. Any time you have something where everyone feels part of the magical story, it’s a special time.
This fall’s reopening of Ryan Field (home of Northwestern Football) makes this another exciting moment at the University. What are you looking forward to about the new Ryan Field?
It’s exciting to have a venue that is in line with the quality and the experience of the school. When you think Northwestern, you think of an absolute first-class institution, all around, which describes 99 percent of our facilities. It will be great to have our football stadium represent the school that way.
Why did you say yes to serving as the National Homecoming and Reunion Chair?
Northwestern is a special place, and it’s given me a lot, between friendships, my wife, and an education for one of my kids. It’s been a great, welcoming community and part of my extended family. So I look forward to opportunities to be involved and give back.
What is your pitch to classmates and fellow alumni to attend Homecoming and Reunion this year?
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is a great time to reengage at whatever level works for you. Maybe you come to all the football games already; maybe you only come once a year; maybe you only come every five years. But it’s a great opportunity to get back and reconnect with people that were, and probably still are, special to you and that you probably don’t see as often as you’d like. It’s great to get back and go to some of the old hangouts and see people and see old faces that you haven’t seen in a long time.
Join your class Reunion committee and help rally classmates for this special milestone.
Undergraduate alumni with class years ending in 6 or 1 are invited to sign up.