In Memoriam: Dr. Linda S. Bergmann

The editors of Present Tense share with a heavy heart the unexpected death of Dr. Linda S. Bergmann. Linda died on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at her home in West Lafayette, Indiana. Linda was Professor of English at Purdue University and Director of the Purdue Writing Lab. She also oversaw the world famous Purdue Online Writing Lab. In addition to serving on numerous committees related to writing centers, writing across the curriculum (WAC), and composition, she served on the Present Tense advisory board since the journal’s inception.

The journal Peitho has published a wonderful and comprehensive piece in their Fall/Winter, 2013 issue (http://peitho.cwshrc.org/issues/current/) that honors Linda, her work, and her legacy (pp. 58-86). Compiled and written by Patricia Sullivan and Jenny Bay, the piece contains a biography of Linda, a bibliography of her work, and the dissertation committees she chaired and served on. It also includes the memorials read at Linda’s Celebration of Life Service, which was held at Purdue University on Friday, January 17, 2014. The memorials were written by her colleagues and dear friends Patricia Sullivan, Irwin Weiser, Shirley Rose, and Judith Yaross Lee. Two of Linda’s former students, Elizabeth Angeli and Dana Driscoll, shared their memorials that included reflections they and fellow students wrote about Linda.

We remember Linda’s legacy at Present Tense as we continue publishing scholarship that advocates the kind of positive change through pedagogy, community engagement, and research that Linda worked toward her whole life.

Thank you, Linda, for enriching our lives.

Elizabeth L. Angeli, Annotated Bibliography Editor
Joshua Prenosil, General Editor
Megan Schoen, Managing Editor
Cristyn L. Elder, Managing Editor
Ehren Helmut Pflugfelder, Managing Editor
Caitlan Spronk, Technical Editor
Allen Brizee, Review Editor
Alexandra Hidalgo, Multimedia Editor
Don Unger, Print Editor
Jessica E. Clements, Style Editor
John Williford, Design Editor