My early career was that of a researcher of Environmental Science and a Professor of Biology/Ecology. I have achieved my B.S. in Biology (1966) from the State University at Cortland; an M.S. in Ecology at the State university of New York at Albany and my Ph.D. (1981) from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University. While teaching at the State University of New York at Delhi I ended up as a College Administrator as a Vice President of Academic Affairs. Later I became the Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania.

After I acquired my Ph.D. I continued my personal interest in theology and spirituality. I attended Princeton Theological Seminary during the summers from 1982 to about 1992. During this time I did not enroll in any program of study for ordination but rather selected the courses I would like to take for my own interest and edification. [I have always selected as “recreational-reading” such authors as Bonhoeffer, Kierkegaard, and Rahner; perhaps not so much recreation as maybe a long-lost interest in theological thinking.]

In 1993 I resigned from College Administration and took a year off to re-think my direction in life (I was on my way as a College President; but had reservations of this move). I returned to seminary full-time, this time to Washington Theological Union in Washington D.C. During this time I recalibrated my life and used this time to discern a direction. I was 50 years old at the time. Upon my return, I spent another three years in the study of lay-ministry offered by the PCUSA Susquehanna Presbytery and was commissioned a lay pastor in 2006. I have traveled the circuit of filling pulpits and I have been the lay-pastor of the Stamford Presbyterian Church in NY for two years.

I was asked to fill a vacant pulpit of the UCC in Walton in 2011, I was licensed by the UCC in 2012 and the rest is history. However, I have fallen in love with the UCC and am now reviewing the possibility of ordination in this denomination.

Editor’s Note: The Congregation of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ of Walton was pleased to participate in the ordination and installation to the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Schwengber on June 27th, 2021. We welcome her as the minister of our congregation.