David Bergsieker, IVCC art professor, announced his retirement for the end of this semester after 29 years of employment.
Bergsieker was born and raised in St. Louis, Mo.

Bergsieker attended undergraduate school at Washington University in St. Louis and graduated in 1974. He then went on to attend graduate school at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo. and graduated in 1978. Bergsieker’s major was visual arts in painting.

Bergsieker had a graduate teaching fellowship at the University of Wyoming. He was then hired after graduation and spent five years teaching at the University of Wyoming.

Directly after Wyoming, Bergsieker came to IVCC for nearly three decades of employment. He has taught a wide variety of classes including drawing, design, photography, art history, painting, and life drawing.

Bergsieker’s favorite IVCC memories include having been Faculty Union President for three years and negotiating faculty contracts over a 12-year period. Working with the students he has taught during his time at IVCC, he says has become one of his favorite memories.

Over the years, Bergsieker has been able to see his former students become local high school art teachers, including one having moved on to be a professional videographer.

Bergsieker’s advice to colleagues is, “It’s critically important for faculty to continue to fight for academic integrity and to work to protect their retirement benefits.”

Bergsieker’s plans for after retirement include going back to painting and exhibiting.

He hopes to be putting together a studio in his home or possibly buying a commercial building to have a studio to work on his art.