CLAREMONT, Calif.–Western Credit Union Management School has announced a leadership transition, with Dr. Michael Steinberger assuming the role of president and dean, and the WCMS Board of Trustees naming other new leadership to guide the school’s future, including a credit union CEO.
The new administration is already engaged in formulating the curriculum for the school’s 66th session in July 2026, according to WCMS.
“Dr. Michael Steinberger, or just “Dr. Mike” to the WCMS students who know him, first joined the WCMS administration team in 2006,” the school said in a statement. “Since 2016, he has served as the school’s dean and chief academic officer, and is now expanding his leadership role to president and dean of the school.
Serving over the years with previous WCMS Presidents’ Dr. James Likens and Diana Dykstra (1992 graduate), Dr. Steinberger is a pivotal architect of the school’s academic curriculum, faculty selection, and the student experience.
A distinguished research economist and professor at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., Dr. Steinberger holds an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley where he earned Highest Honors in the three majors of Economics, Political Science, and Statistics, as well as a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), WCMS said.
Cited by Fed
“His research on wage inequality and financial services has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and presented at the Federal Reserve, as well as showcased in academic journals,” the school added. “A multi-time recipient of Pomona College’s Wig Distinguished Professor Award for excellence in teaching, he also brings deep industry experience as the current Board Chair of First City Credit Union in Los Angeles.’
WCMS added that he joined his first credit union at age 6 and frequently shares with students his gratitude for a partial scholarship he received from his credit union when he went to college and began his own educational journey.
‘So Important’
“WCMS is so important for our students and the credit unions they serve. Our school’s mission remains steadfast; empowering the next generation of credit union leaders with the ‘head and heart’ educational foundation they need to drive change for their members,” Steinberger said in a statement. “I am humbled to step into the role of president of such an impactful school. Having worked alongside former presidents and personal mentors Diana Dykstra and Jim Likens, I am committed to honoring and strengthening the remarkable foundation and legacy they — along with so many others — have established at the school.”
New Association Dean of Projects
To support this new chapter in WCMS history, the school has appointed Matt Stephenson (2008 graduate) as associate dean of projects.
Stephenson, the president and CEO of Rogue Credit Union in Medford, Ore., will work with Dr. Steinberger to oversee the school’s between-term Project I and Project II.
“These intensive student research projects support student development by ensuring students apply their classroom learning back into their own strategic planning at their credit unions,” the school said.
According to WCMS, Stephenson is one of only 12 people in the school’s 65-year history to graduate with Highest Honors. With a background in Information Technology and an MBA from University of Nevada—Las Vegas (UNLV), Stephenson has been a pillar of the WCMS faculty, serving as an instructor, project mentor, and reader for years, WCMS said.
‘Transformative Pillars’
“For our students, Projects I and II are the defining transformative pillars of our school,” Stephenson said in a statement. “They challenge students to think deeper and apply what they’ve learned directly to their credit unions and the members they serve. I look forward to continuing the school’s constant commitment to update and refine the Projects to help our students develop their leadership and improve their ability to make real impact for their members.”
New Board Leadership for 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, WCMS has named new leadership on its Board of Trustees, including:
- Bill Cheney, Chief Executive Officer for Schools First Federal Credit Union, who will serve as the new WCMS Board Chair. “The Board is confident that our new administrative team is well positioned to carry forward our school’s unique mission,” Cheney said. “WCMS is a catalyst for leadership in our industry, and we are proud to support the next generations of leaders who will define the future of credit unions.”
- Eric Petracca, president and CEO of iQ Credit Union, is the new WCMS Vice Chair.
2026 Registration Now Open
WCMS said it is inviting current and up-and-coming leaders within the credit union industry to register for the 2026 academic year. The curriculum remains at the cutting edge of financial services operations, planning, and development, with graduates eligible to transfer up to 18 semester hours toward an undergraduate degree or nine hours toward a graduate degree (such as an MBA), WCMS added.
- Session Dates: July 12-24, 2026.
- Location: Pomona College in Claremont, CA.
- How to Register: visit www.wcmspomona.org.
