President Bergman Receives U of M Award of Distinction

Gustavus Adolphus College President Rebecca Bergman received the University of Minnesota Award of Distinction for her years of service to the University’s College of Science and Engineering on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the College’s annual Leadership Gala.

The University of Minnesota Award of Distinction recognizes those who have attained distinction in their field, profession, and/or public or volunteer service and who are not an alumnus or alumna of the University or a current or former member of the University faculty, staff, Board of Regents, or student body. Recipients of the Award of Distinction are determined through a nomination process, whereby current members of the faculty, staff, student body, and alumni of the University may nominate someone for the award.

The citation recognizing Bergman stated that she is a “Pioneering scientist, who brought biology to bear on research into cardiovascular devices and whose work on implantable devices has benefitted numerous patients. She is an exceptional corporate leader, who led biomaterials and biosciences research and development, new therapy development, and information management initiatives at Medtronic. She is an extraordinary servant and adviser, whose invaluable counsel has guided biomedical engineering research and educational programs at the University of Minnesota and in the national biomedical engineering and biomedical materials communities.”

Before beginning her role as the 17th president of Gustavus, Bergman spent the previous 26 years at Medtronic, Inc., including the last 14 years as a senior executive. Her most recent position was Vice President of Research, Technology, and Therapy Delivery Systems for the company’s Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management business, where she led a research and development team of scientists and engineers.

After earning her B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University, Bergman undertook graduate study in a Ph.D. program in chemical engineering and material science at the University of Minnesota. She was elected as a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2001, and elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2010. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Sigma-Aldrich, and on the Board of Directors of The Bakken Museum.