Prof. Emeritus of Chemistry Conrad Bergo Grand Marshal for Spring Graduate Commencement Exercises

Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Conrad Bergo, Ph.D., was the grand marshal for East Stroudsburg University’s graduate commencement exercises at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 11, 2011, in Koehler Fieldhouse. Dr. Bergo joined the ESU faculty in 1980, and retired in June 2011. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.

From 1972 to 1975, Dr. Bergo served as a Peace Corps Volunteer teaching chemistry and conducting research at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. He returned to the United States in 1975 to an appointment as a postdoctoral research associate in the pharmacology department at the University of Kentucky, where he carried out research on carcinogenic compounds. Courses taught by Professor Bergo at ESU included “Physical Chemistry” and “General Chemistry” among others.

While at ESU, Dr. Bergo served on many committees and organizations.  He partnered with C. Y. Chang, Ph.D., of the chemistry department to initiate the university’s annual Sigma Xi Research Forum. Dr. Bergo also served as chairperson of the Faculty Research and Development Grants (FDR) Committee and the Ethical Standards in Research Committee.  His work on Green Chemistry, modernizing labs, and kinetic studies with He-Ne and nitrogen lasers, resulted in several presentations at national American Chemical Society meetings.  He is active in the American Chemical Society, especially the division of chemical education.  He co-chaired the chemical education division of the American Chemical Society national meetings in Washington,D.C.in 2000 and 2005.

Dr. Bergo served on the board of directors of the Burnley Workshop of the Poconos for over 25 years.  He served as president of the board from 1993 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2006.  He was instrumental in introducing the literacy program to the workshop and collaborating with the community to obtain grants for building improvements and the capital campaign.

His wife, the late Nancy Wallace, was an accomplished watercolor and collage artist whose work was shown at numerous shows in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and North Carolina. She won several awards in area shows. She presented one-person shows at the Dutot Museum in Delaware Water Gap as well as Artspace Gallery in Stroudsburg.

Dr. Bergo now lives in Berlin, Md.

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