Two ChemE alumni cite John Berg as inspiration for their continued support

Mary Armstrong and Jill Seebergh reflect on how Professor John Berg and their overall ChemE experiences inspired them to give back to the department.

Mary Armstrong (ChemE B.S. ‘79)

“Because of John’s encouragement and counsel, I applied and was accepted to the University of Rochester master’s program in chemical engineering. The additional master’s coursework and research project, along with the experience of living in a different region of the country, had a significant impact on my resume and my self-confidence. Since that time, I have had a very exciting career, initially in the oil industry and then in aerospace. I have held engineering, operations and executive positions, and served as an elected official until 2024. John’s mentorship played a huge role in my broad ranging career, teaching me to believe in myself, stretch my horizons and strive for excellence.”

Armstrong wanted to help other students access the same life-changing experience she had as a result of choosing the ChemE path at the UW. In 2018 she started the Armstrong Scholarship in Chemical Engineering, to provide future undergraduate students the opportunity to achieve the same life-changing career success.

Jill Seebergh (ChemE Ph.D. ‘95)

“In my five years as a graduate student in the Berg group, John was a great advisor. It’s a time of my life that I really treasure—the students and the faculty, but also just the broader culture of the department. It was a really great experience and I felt very prepared to go out into the world and start my career. When I moved back to Seattle, it was great to be able to reconnect with ChemE. I was able to get involved with some of the work that John was doing in his research group, got invited to support undergrad mentorship, and served on industry panels to share experience. I really wanted to help ensure that other students got to have the same very positive experience that I had.” 

Seebergh has been inspired to maintain a connection to ChemE. In addition to serving on the External Advisory Board, both Seebergh and her husband Matthew Hinck (also a ChemE alumnus) have given back to the department through annual giving.

Photos: 

(Upper) Jill as a graduate student in the 1990s, working inside Berg's colloids lab. 

(Lower) John Berg and Jill Seebergh, during John's 50th Anniversary celebration in 2014.