Adam W. Herbert Bio

The Adam W. Herbert University Center is named after the University’s third president who served from 1989 to 1998. During his tenure, Herbert increased enrollment, enhanced academic quality, greatly expanded the campus, fostered a caring and nurturing learning environment and built lasting bridges to the community. Once such bridge included securing funding and overseeing the design and construction of the University Center, open to the campus, community and area businesses.

The University experienced unprecedented growth under 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, Herbert was named chancellor of the State University System of Florida. Returning to UNF in 2000, Herbert became the founding executive director of The Florida Center for Public Policy and Leadership, which was a manifestation of his longstanding interest in public service. Today he resides in Jacksonville with his wife, Karen.