Dr. Schreffler was born in Ohio and grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania. He earned his B. A. in English at a small Christian college north of Pittsburgh and his M. A., and Ph. D., in English at Bowling Green State University in northwestern Ohio. He is married and has one son, a junior in high school. Dr. Schreffler has a deep interest in national politics and in baseball. He is a guardian of a small band of cats.