RUTH STORM - Wartburg College

4 FALL | 2012
From optics to
AdMiniStrAtion
biermann brings diverse experiences and scientific background to dean’s office
by Saul Shapiro
Dr. Mark Biermann has had a laser-like focus on his career —
literally. Biermann became Wartburg College’s dean of the
faculty and vice president of academic affairs in June.
He succeeded Dr. Ferol Menzel, who retired a year earlier, and
brings a background in optics — physics dealing with light.
“The essential nature of Wartburg is in keeping with some of the
best experiences I’ve had in higher education,” Biermann said.
“Liberal arts with strong ties to professional and preprofessional
programs, a strong sense of community engagement, a strong love
for the arts, and an athletic program that complements the overall
mission of the institution are pieces that I find very powerful as they
come together.”
“A liberal arts education … not only makes you good in your
particular field of study, but … a well-rounded student
who wants to learn and be engaged in the community.”
– Mark Biermann
In fact, Wartburg fits him to a double “n.”
“I share a German-Lutheran background,” Biermann remarked,
“and when I was in Germany to conduct research, it was pointed out
that I spell my name in the proper German fashion — with two n’s.”
Biermann was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, the son of a
Lutheran pastor who served a congregation in Milk River, not far
from the U.S. border. He went to high school in Gladwin, Mich.
(pop. 2,500), where he was involved in basketball and track. He also
participated in theater and played trumpet in the wind ensemble,
pep band, and marching band.
He had a singular fascination in academics.
“I really became interested in lasers and holography,” Biermann
said. “The laser was only about 16 years old, and the hologram had
been conceptually thought about way back in the Forties, but it
wasn’t until the laser came along that there was an easy, practical
way of making a hologram.”
He matriculated to the University of Rochester in upstate New
York, which had the nation’s only undergraduate program in optics
and housed the Institute of Optics because of strong interactions
between the university and Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch and
Lomb. Biermann had two Kodak internships, working on optical
engineering projects.
He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees there.
His doctoral work involved quantum optics — “studying really
short laser pulses interacting with matter,
especially semiconductors, which has a
variety of applications for communications,
lasers and other devices.”
His first taste of teaching came as a
19-year-old college junior.
“I had a chance to teach a couple of
sections of recitation for mathematics —
Calculus 2,” Biermann recalled. “I was
teaching traditional-aged students, and
students 40 or 50 years old, professionals
getting some background needed for a
degree in mathematics, science, or
engineering. I found it difficult when people twice my
age referred to me as ‘Mr. Biermann.’
“But they were all really good students,” he added, “and
I fell in love with it.”
His career path, Biermann said, eventually came
down to “deciding between opportunities in research or
industry and what I was really enjoying — teaching.”
His journey took him to small private colleges
(Whitworth, Buena Vista, and Taylor universities), a large state
school (Eastern Kentucky University), and a federal institution (the
U.S. Naval Academy).
“I personally hate moving, but when you look at my resumé
it sure doesn’t look like that,” Biermann said. “Life happens. The
downside is that I’ve relocated quite a few times. The upside is that
I’ve had a tremendous opportunity to learn so much about higher
education in so many different settings.”
“I’ve run the gamut,” he added, “but throughout I’ve loved
teaching. I really enjoy undergraduates working with me when I do
research.”
Biermann’s shift to administration followed a succession of
academic leadership roles — program director, department chair,
and heading major committees before becoming dean of the School
of Natural and Applied Sciences at Taylor.
Faculty regard for Biermann may be best illustrated by an
experience at Taylor, where he was responsible for six academic
departments and two independent centers while helping shepherd
development of the new Science Learning Center.
“My faculty colleagues were really kind. My mother died about
two years ago, and they actually contributed quite a bit to the
Science Learning Center so that the school office suite furnishings
were given in honor of my mom, Karen.”
As dean of the faculty, Biermann sees his role as “helping to