Mac's experiences in Grand Forks' District 42 reflect a commitment to the community and his home state of North Dakota that goes deeper than politics.

An alumnus of the University of North Dakota, Schneider received a degree in History in 2002, graduating Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. While at UND, he was a member of the Student Senate and the winner of the university-wide Merrifield Competition for historical research and writing.

Outside of the classroom, Mac was one of the “Hogs,” starting 24 games at center for UND 's football team. During his career, Schneider played on the 2001 national championship team and was selected as a two-time Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors Association. As part of his senior season, he received All-Conference Honorable Mention honors and was voted team captain and UND football's most valuable offensive lineman by his teammates.

After his final year of football eligibility, Mac joined with teammates Kelby Klosterman and Brian Wilhelmi to create the “Holiday Magic from Markus” charity to honor the life of Markus Bryant, an inspirational young UND fan who sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2002. The charity, now in its sixth year of existence, has raised thousands of dollars to provide gifts to Grand Forks area children who are forced to spend the holiday season in the hospital.

In recognition of these efforts in the classroom, the community, and on the field, Mac received the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Walter Byers Scholarship, a post-graduate award given to one male and one female student athlete per year out of 380,000 nationwide. Mac was also selected as a Harry S. Truman Scholar, a post-graduate scholarship provided to students seeking a career in public service.

After graduating from UND, Mac accepted a staff position with Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) where he worked as Legislative Aide and Press Secretary in an office that dealt daily with critical issues affecting North Dakota and Grand Forks, including the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round and the Grand Forks flood control project. He also served as Communications Director for Rep. Pomeroy's successful 2004 re-election campaign.

Mac graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2008. At Georgetown, he was on the American Criminal Law Review and was a member of the Domestic Violence Clinic, where he successfully argued for court-ordered protection for victims of domestic abuse in District of Columbia Superior Court. Mac was admitted to the North Dakota bar in September and is beginning a law practice in Grand Forks as a member of the Schneider Law Firm.

Mac is originally from Fargo, North Dakota and is the son of Mark and Mary Schneider. He has one younger sister, Libby, who is a senior at Bemidji State University. Jasper Schneider, Mac's cousin, currently represents Fargo's District 21 in the North Dakota House of Representatives and is a candidate for North Dakota Insurance Commissioner.