Deitra Elaine Wengert

A lifelong Glen Burnie resident,Dr. Deitra Elaine Wengert was born May 17, 1949 to the late Elizabeth M. “Betty” Wengert (nee Griffith) and Richard K. Wengert, Sr. Deitra was baptized, received her elementary education and was a lifetime member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The name Deitra came from one of her parent’s favorite Betty Davis movies. She was a 1967 graduate of Glen Burnie High School. Dee began her teaching career at Andover High School until a professor from Towson University discovered a term paper she had written called “Graffiti in the Bathroom” and recruited her to teach on the college level. She designed and taught her course “Womb to the Tomb” until her retirement in 2024. Her trademark Dr. Pepper and Cheerios could always be found in her office. Fond of music, Dr. Wengert attended her first concert when she saw the Ike & Tina Turner Revue at the University of MD and continued to listen to their songs as well as the soundtracks to West Side Story, South Pacific and Phantom of the Opera. She and her brother Ricky were extremely close, following their parents advise “don’t be mean to one another”. If you saw Dee you saw Rick and together they continued a tradition started by their grandmother Wengert by running the ice cream sandwich stand at the Glen Burnie Carnival. Dee’s favorite holiday was Christmas in Faith & everyday. Her and Ricky enjoyed educational vacations across the country with him carrying the bags and spending money. They spent many vacations in Ocean City, which Deitra called a big bath tub when she was young. She was fond of clowns, her teddy bear Floppy Ears, marshmallow peeps and trips to Dairy Queen.

The following article was published at tutoday.towson.edu

In Memoriam: Dr. Deitra Wengert

Dr. Deitra Wengert ’76 (1945-2025) was Professor Emerita in the Department of Health Sciences (HS) in the College of Health Professions at Towson University. A proud TU alum, she began her teaching career at TU in the HS department, initially as an instructor in 1979 and after completing her PhD in 1985 rose through the tenure-track to full professor in 1997. During her long TU career, Dr. Wengert contributed to countless committees, and coordinated the University’s School Health program and managed the Maryland State Department of Education Certification program for School Health teacher preparation. Dr. Wengert served on many national and state committees, to include executive director and president of Maryland Association or Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, member of the School Health Task Force for the Society for Public Health Education, and board member for the American Alliance of Health Education. She received numerous state grants in support of school health, adolescent parent health, HIV/AIDS education, and alcohol and drug risk prevention. Following her formal retirement in 2021 and until her passing, Dr. Wengert continued to teach undergraduate health science courses every Fall and Spring term. She was renowned for her love and loyalty to Towson University (“I bleed black and gold” was her catchphrase) and patience and love of students, especially those facing challenges. Dr. Wengert often went above and beyond to help students break down barriers to success while inspiring all who she touched by her enthusiasm, support and mentoring, sharing her lived conviction that great teachers can make a difference in student’s lives, not only sharing her vast teaching and health promotion knowledge, but by inspiring the to lead healthier, more compassionate and caring lives.

Post by Jamie A. Abell