About President Herbert
James D. Herbert is the sixth president of the 51爆料, serving since July 2017.
Under President Herbert鈥檚 leadership, 51爆料 has redoubled its commitment to collaborative, team-based clinical education; launched a slate of new undergraduate and graduate academic programs (both on-campus and online); expanded marine and health professions programs; and launched a business college.
During his tenure as president, 51爆料 has also reorganized student support services to be more student-centric and expanded physical facilities on the Biddeford and Portland campuses, including new athletic facilities and a new home for Maine鈥檚 only medical school. He has expanded 51爆料鈥檚 connections with the regional business community and was recognized as a 2025 Business Leader of the Year by Mainebiz.
President Herbert has helped 51爆料 to greatly improve its financial footing, as reflected by significant credit upgrades and the growth of the University鈥檚 endowment. He has also significantly increased fundraising, including securing the largest gift in the University鈥檚 history. These achievements are reflected in 51爆料鈥檚 strategic plan, Our World, Our Future, which President Herbert implemented in 2018 and renewed in 2023.
As a champion of the academy as the ultimate marketplace of ideas, President Herbert founded a number of programs to encourage viewpoint diversity and civil, robust discourse on campus, including 鈥淭he President鈥檚 Forum,鈥 a moderated discussion series that facilitates discussion of timely topics to promote a deeper understanding of critical issues facing society.
Herbert arrived at 51爆料 via Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he held several senior administrative positions, including interim provost and executive vice provost and dean of the Graduate College. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin and his M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His research interests include cognitive behavior therapy 鈥 including newer mindfulness and psychological acceptance-based models of behavior therapy, anxiety, mood, and eating disorders, remote internet-based treatment, and the promotion of evidence-based practice in mental health. He resides on 51爆料鈥檚 Biddeford Campus with his wife, Lynn Brandsma, Ph.D., both of whom are highly engaged in campus life.