Donald Wedegaertner graduated from UC Berkeley with a BS Chemistry degree in 1958.He joined the American Chemical Society in 1958 upon beginning graduate studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign where a PhD in Organic Chemistry was earned in 1962. This was followed by postdoctoral research at Iowa State University.In 1963 he began a 42 year career teaching in the Chemistry Department at the University of Pacific, serving a six year term as Department Chair. He also introduced Peer Led Team Learning into the undergraduate Organic Chemistry Course. This aid to student learning continues to flourish in the Organic Course and has been expanded into the General Chemistry Course. He was a Fulbright Scholar Visiting Professor, University of the West Indies, Barbados 1993-94. Sabbaticals included research and study at the University of Rochester (1969-70, 1978-79, 1995-96) and the University of Utah (1993-94). He has also served the Sacramento ACS Section as Secretary (1973) and Chair (1982).
The Sacramento area has over 900 members of the American Chemical Society in all areas of chemistry.