Otterbein’s Board Of Trustees welcomes the first female chair member, Cheryl Herbert.
Herbert has over 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She began her career as a nurse in Columbus and soon progressed to supervisory and management roles. She has also served on a number of community boards, including Otterbein’s; which consisted of being a member and officer since February 2010.
“It’s an honor to be Chair of the Board of Trustees. The legacy of past Chairs is a great one and I hope to continue building on it. Having served on the Board for about ten years now, I’m deeply committed to the mission and vision of Otterbein and looking forward to my term leading the Board,” said Herbert.
President John Comerford applauds Otterbein for prompting Herbert. Herbert took part in the hiring process of Comerford, leaving him pleasant things to say about her.
“Herbert was the chair of the search committee, so it was mainly her doing the hiring,” said Comerford.
“Cheryl is remarkable. She is the most dedicated person you will ever meet, and when she says she is going to do something; she will do it, and she will do it with gusto,” said Comerford.
As Herbert is taking on this new role at Otterbein, she plans to continue the previous work that the Board Of Trustees has done, always focusing on maintaining a solid foundation built on a mission.
“The focus of the Board is always on ensuring the long-term viability of the institution. Working with President Comerford and other University leaders, we need to keep our eye on current-day operations while looking to the future and what we need to do to adapt to an ever-changing world,” said Herbert.
In the coming years, Herbert and Comerford plan to work closely together
“What I am most encouraged by is we share the same goals, we care about access and affordability issues, a different model of higher education and we care about the ideas that come from me or the Board,” said Comerford.
As Herbert is taking on this role and fabricating new ideas for Otterbein, she has the opinion that there may be some challenges.
“As the Board and administration look to the future, it’s clear that challenging times are with us and ahead of us as we deal with the aftermath of COVID, declining numbers of high-school graduates, and significant staffing shortages. Changes in how people work, the skills they need to do jobs, and general uncertainty about the future all are part of what we need to consider,” said Herbert.
As Herbert makes her plans for the future of Otterbein, she plans to continue to use the Board's number one priority to keep Otterbein the best university.
“The Board collectively guides and supports the implementation of a strategic plan that is designed to keep Otterbein alive and well for future generations. While change is inevitable and necessary for survival, the Board is always focused on maintaining a solid foundation built on a mission,” said Herbert.
Herbert is honored to be the new chair member for the Board Of Trustees and has a great appreciation for the trust that was placed on her by the Board and University Administration.
