Adam Herbert

Adam William Herbert, Jr. (born December 1, 1943) is an American retired academic administrator.

Herbert earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science (1966) and a Master of Public Administration (1968) from the University of Southern California.

He earned his Ph.D. in urban affairs and public administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971.

Herbert's academic career started at University of Southern California as a faculty member in the School of Public Administration and the Center for Urban Affairs.

In 1972 he became the chair of urban affairs program and associate professor of urban affairs at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).

Herbert also held academic appointments in political science and public administration at the University of North Florida; Florida International University, where he was dean of the School of Public Affairs and Services and vice president for academic affairs; the University of Southern California; Howard University; and the University of Pittsburgh.

He is a member of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and has served two terms as a member of its board of trustees.

His research focuses on the politics of higher education and on the policy, political and administrative challenges of enhancing public education from pre-kindergarten through higher education, with particular emphasis on issues that impact low income and minority communities.

In 1974, he became one of 15 White House Fellows in the Ford Administration.

He served as special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.

Following the fellowship year he served as special assistant to the U.S. Undersecretary of Housing and Urban Development and subsequently as director of research for the Joint Center for Political Studies in Washington, DC.

Herbert served as president of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.

He is a member of the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and chaired the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II Presidents Council.

He served as president of the University of North Florida from 1989 to 1998, as chancellor of the State University System of Florida from 1998 to 2001, and as president of Indiana University from 2003 to 2007.

He was the first African-American to hold the latter two positions.

He served as president of the university from 1989 to 1998.

Adam W. Herbert, an outstanding educator and inspirational leader who was the third president of the University of North Florida.

He was chair of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce in 1993.

He has served as a Florida Commissioner on the Education Commission of States and is a member of the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission.

Herbert served as Regents Professor at the University of North Florida and founding executive director of the influential Florida Center for Public Policy and Leadership.

UNF experienced unprecedented growth under Dr. Herbert's leadership, exceeding the 10,000-student level in 1995.

He also fostered community partnerships resulting in a significant increase in private funding to supplement state appropriations.

During his time as UNF president, he was chairman of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of NFL Now, a successful community initiative to bring a National Football League team to Jacksonville.

Following his UNF service, he was named chancellor of the State University System of Florida, the second-largest university system in America.

From 1998 to 2000, Herbert was the sixth chancellor of the State University System of Florida, the second-largest university system in America.

During his tenure, Dr. Herbert increased enrollment, enhanced academic quality, greatly expanded the campus, fostered a caring and nurturing learning environment and built lasting bridges to the community.

One such bridge included securing the funding and overseeing the design and construction of this conference center open to the university, the community and area businesses.

Returning to UNF in 2000, Dr. Herbert became the founding executive director of The Florida Center for Public Policy and Leadership.

The center was a manifestation of Dr. Herbert's longstanding interest in public service.

Early in his career, he was selected as one of 15 White House Fellows and served as special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.

He also was special assistant to the U.S. Undersecretary of Housing and Urban Development and director of research for the Joint Center for Political Studies in Washington, D.C.

In 2003, Dr. Herbert was selected as the 16th president of Indiana University, leading the eight-campus system until 2007.

When Dr. Herbert retired, he and his wife Karen returned to Jacksonville.

He announced his retirement from Indiana University in 2007, and was succeeded by Michael McRobbie.

Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, he and his sister Tamashia Buckner were raised by their mother Addie Hibler Herbert a divorcee.

Herbert attended Manual Training High School.

Herbert's mother was a teacher and librarian and a strong influence on him.

He has called her his personal hero.

In October 2013, a community center at UNF was dedicated to Dr. Herbert.

The Adam W. Herbert University Center was dedicated as part of the annual Founders Day celebration.