Richard Bergen grew up in New Jersey.  He came to Kansas when he began studies at Bethany College.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture, Dr. Bergen taught art in Great Bend, then in Salina for 15 years.   During this time he earned a Master of Arts in Education from Kansas Sate University and an Ed. D. in Art Education from the University of Kansas.  He served as professor of art and then Chair of the Art Department at Marymount College for eleven years before he turned to sculpture full-time.