Dr. Margaret Mary Bierly enrolled in San Jose State University, funding her studies through part-time modeling. In 1971, Margaret earned her B.A. and continued her education at Stanford University on a full scholarship. She completed her Ph.D. in Education Psychology, with an emphasis in developmental psycholinguistics and teaching effectiveness in 1975.

After a short term on the faculty at Arizona State University, Dr. Bierly found her true home at California State University, Chico, where she was a professor in the Psychology Department for more than 40 years. At Chico State she became "my favorite teacher" to thousands of students.

Renowned for her dedication, she devoted tireless hours to mentoring students and she chaired more than 70 master's theses and served on more than 150 committees. Margaret was a creative, collegial researcher, producing more than 50 publications and presentations, and she collaborated on research with colleagues both within and outside her department. She and her frequent collaborator and co-author in the College of Business, investigated gender differences in career progression strategies used by men and women, and the ways in which men and women judge the competence of male and female political candidates.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and ex-husband Tom Wagstaff.

She leaves behind her beloved son, a sister, a nephew, and his wife, a niece, three great nephews and a special cousin.

A celebration of life is planned at the lakeside pavilion in Chico California on April 21st from 1:30 PM 4:30 PM, offering family and friends an opportunity to reminisce and honor her legacy.