S. Rogiata Sohler (1902-1992) College Faculty Chemistry 1933-1973

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S. Rogatia Sohler

Sister Rogatia (Martha Andrea) Sohler was born on August 1, 1902, to Simon Peter and Cecilia (Abts) in Coleridge, Nebraska. She was the oldest of eight. She attended her last year of high school at St. Benedict’s Academy and developed a longing for a convent life. She entered the community in 1919 and taught high school and upper elementary in the early 1920s. She finished her B.A. in chemistry in 1932 from the College of St. Benedict (after 13 years of summer courses at CSB and correspondence courses at the University of MN). She was taking classes at the University in 1929, when Mother Louise Walz,  changed her courses of study from history to chemistry. She refused no assignment with the motto, “I’ll try.” So she finished up her degree in chemistry and followed with a M.S. in organic chemistry from Marquette University in 1934. She then continued graduate studies and received a Doctorate in biochemistry from the Institutum Divi Thomae, in Cincinnati Ohio in 1956. Her thesis was titled, “Plant Extracts and Inhibitors of Amylase and other Enzyme Systems.” 

She taught at CSB from 1933-1973 and was known to be a meticulous professor who was enthusiastic about her subject and who readily made herself available to her students. She wrote different articles related to science teaching and liberal arts education. One article was titled, “Time: Its Misuse in the Science Classroom," where she describes ways to have better use of time when teaching, including, unnecessary repetition and promptly returning work.  She was passionate about teaching practices and overall learning. In another article on the teaching practices in science, she states, “To cram students with facts is to violate intellectual integrity and to cultivate mental sterility,” going on to say that only so much can be absorbed at once and it dulls imagination and creativity.  S. Rogaita explains why freshman chemistry students struggle - they do not concentrate and have not been taught to listen and think. In concluding remarks in a different article in the Science Counselor, "Information and Formation in Science Classes" she explains that “listening, thinking, and problem-solving if mastered by the student, will enable them to advance forward in wisdom (Scholer, 1949)." 

Herb gardening was a hobby that she began in 1975. Herbs are very rich in vitamins and minerals. The course she taught, “Herbs for Health and Hobby,” mentioned that many young women often took the course. She knew which herbs could be used for food, for ailments, or for sleep, a bit of “herblore” as she described it, folklore around the use of herbs. Sister Rogatia wanted the world to know that weeds could be wonderful.  During her experiments with fermentation, she got into winemaking, stating - one thing led to another. Dandelion wine was on her list of many different recipes she would create. 

Early Science Faculty at CSB
S. Rogiata Sohler (1902-1992) College Faculty Chemistry 1933-1973