BETHLEHEM, PA, April 18, 2022: Dr. Herman E. Collier Jr., president of Moravian College from 1969 through 1986, passed away at age 94 on March 28, 2022. During a long and distinguished career Dr. Collier led Moravian College through some of its most significant growth; including construction of the Hall of Science, since named in his honor, two residence halls, the Bahnson Center within Moravian Theological Seminary, the Center for Music and Arts, since named in honor of Priscilla Payne Hurd, and the Timothy Breidegam track at the Steel Field athletic complex.
As news of the passing of Dr. Collier spread, many in the Moravian community and beyond have offered condolences.
“Herm is a significant figure in the story of ˿Ƶ, he led the institution through a tumultuous period in American history and his leadership created the foundation for the growth we’re experiencing today,” said Bryon Grigsby, president of ˿Ƶ. “I know many alumni will remember him fondly and the entire community will keep his entire family in their thoughts.”
Before joining Moravian College in the 1960’s, Collier worked as a research chemist for the E.I. du Pont de Nemours Company. He received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA and earned graduate degrees from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.
“Dr. Collier was well respected while president and provided a great blueprint for leadership to all the presidents that followed his tenure,” said Brian Oswald, ‘82, chairman of the ˿Ƶ Board of Trustees. “He will be missed by alumni and remembered fondly for the enduring legacy that he left at Moravian.”
Dr. Collier's community service included stints on the boards of several Lehigh Valley area organizations; including St. Luke's Hospital, the R.K. Laros Foundation, Horizon Health System, the United Way of Northampton and Warren Counties, the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges, Historic Bethlehem Inc., the Committee for Greater Bethlehem, the Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Bethlehem Area Chamber of Commerce, the Lehigh Valley Motor Club, Moravian Academy and the Northampton County Development Corp.
Dr. Collier was predeceased by his wife of 73 years, Jerline Weston Collier, in 2021.
Funeral and obituary information: The lives of both Herman and Jerri will be celebrated by an early fall graveside service in Bethlehem, Pa.
Online condolences may be left at .
Media contact:
˿Ƶ
Michael Corr
Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications
corrm@moravian.edu
610.861.1365
˿Ƶ ˿Ƶ
˿Ƶ is the nation's sixth-oldest university, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that blend liberal arts with professional programs. For more than 275 years, the ˿Ƶ degree has been preparing students for reflective lives, fulfilling careers, and transformative leadership in a world of change. ˿Ƶ is a member of The New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U), a national consortium of selective, small to mid-size independent colleges and universities dedicated to the purposeful integration of liberal education, professional studies, and civic engagement. Visit to learn more about how the ˿Ƶ focus on education for all prepares its students for life-long success.
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