[2] In 1959, he received a PhD in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a thesis in recursive function theory supervised by Hartley Rogers.

[4][5] John Kemeny at Dartmouth remarked that it was difficult to find faculty who could teach well at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, but that "occasionally you are lucky—Don Kreider is an example.

"[6] Initially, Kreider continued research and writing in recursive function theory, working with Robert W. Ritchie.

[11][12] Later he was lead author of a book supporting the use of the HP-48G/GX calculator and co-author with his colleague Dwight Lahr of an interactive set of teaching modules.

John Kemeny, who had become President of Dartmouth in 1970, sought help from Kreider and Ruth Adams,[15] a former President of Wellesley College, in managing the expansion of Dartmouth College as it began admitting women as well as significant numbers of Native American and minority students.

He served as its treasurer from 1986 to 1992[18] when, according to his successor Gerald J. Porter, "the MAA made remarkable strides toward putting both its financial and physical houses in order.