Alvernia celebrates legacy of Professor Emerita of Psychology
Alvernia University mourns the loss of Dr. Peggy Bowen-Hartung, Professor Emerita of Psychology, who passed away on the evening of Dec. 3, 2025. A member of the Alvernia faculty from 2004 to 2020, Bowen-Hartung was a highly respected educator, forensic psychologist and mentor whose work shaped a generation of Alvernia psychology students.
“Peggy will be deeply missed by her family, friends, former students, colleagues and all members of the Alvernia community whose lives were touched by her wisdom, compassion and unwavering dedication to serving others,” said Alvernia President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “Please keep Dr. Bowen-Hartung's family and all who loved her in your prayers and in the quiet intentions of your hearts. May we continue her legacy by serving others with the same courage, compassion and moral clarity that defined her life."
Bowen-Hartung’s journey to Alvernia was rooted in a lifelong commitment to education and public safety. Raised on an Osage Indian reservation in Oklahoma, she left home to attend Stanford University before completing her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in educational psychology at Texas A&M University.
In Texas, she began to see the powerful connection between psychology and criminal justice, particularly as new state laws required psychological evaluations for law enforcement officers. She went on to become a law enforcement instructor and, notably, the first woman in the state of Texas to be named to a special weapons unit. Over the course of her career, she served as a licensed psychologist and certified trauma specialist, supporting law enforcement personnel and first responders in some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable.
Before joining Alvernia, Bowen-Hartung built a distinguished career as a forensic psychologist with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, bringing her expertise in crisis, trauma and behavioral science to complex cases and critical incidents around the world. She was known internationally for assisting in the aftermath of major disasters, including work at ground zero in New York City following the September 11 attacks, as well as deployments to support communities and responders affected by hurricanes, typhoons and other large-scale emergencies.
Bowen-Hartung joined Alvernia University on August 15, 2004, as a tenured faculty member with an appointment in the Psychology program. Over the next 16 years, she helped build and strengthen the university’s psychology and criminal justice offerings, connecting classroom learning to the realities of law enforcement, crisis management and trauma-informed care.
She later served as chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), where she authored Alvernia’s IRB manual and established standards for ethical research that continue to guide faculty and student scholarship today. She was known among colleagues for her meticulous attention to ethical detail and her commitment to protecting vulnerable populations in research.
For her outstanding service to the university, Bowen-Hartung received the Sister Donatilla Faculty Award, one of Alvernia’s highest honors for faculty commitment and contribution. In recognition of her long and impactful career, she was later granted the title of Professor Emerita of Psychology.
In the classroom, she brought together theory and practice in ways that challenged and inspired students. Whether teaching courses in psychology or criminal justice, she emphasized moral courage, critical thinking and empathy—hallmarks of Alvernia’s mission to educate reflective professionals, engaged citizens and ethical leaders.
Beyond her teaching and research, Bowen-Hartung was instrumental in the creation and development of Alvernia’s Veterans Center. Drawing on her professional background supporting service members and first responders, she helped ensure that veterans at Alvernia had access to a welcoming community, dedicated resources and advocates who understood the unique challenges of military and post-service life. Bowen-Hartung was married to Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice Ed Hartung. They were married at Alvernia in the former Crusader Café in the Student Center in 2009 and enjoyed a joyous union until his passing in 2017.
Her commitment to service extended well beyond campus. She worked with local initiatives focused on gang prevention and public safety, served on advisory committees and review boards, and remained active in professional associations at the intersection of criminal justice, psychology and emergency response.
Details regarding funeral and memorial arrangements will be shared with the campus community as they become available from the family. A Celebration of Life Service will be held this Spring at Alvernia. Those who wish to honor her legacy may direct memorial contributions to the Professor Edgar Hartung Emeritus Award at Alvernia University, which supports students in the criminal justice program preparing for careers in law enforcement.
