In recognition of her years of dedicated service to her alma mater, Ohio Northern University alumna and board chair emerita, Pam Hershberger, BSBA ’87, was inducted into the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) Hall of Excellence in April.
Inductees are selected based on professional achievement, impact on society through service and leadership, and dedication to their alma mater—all qualities that Hershberger exemplifies.
A first-generation college student from a family farm, Hershberger excelled academically and athletically at ONU, lettering in basketball and volleyball. Over a 31-year career at Ernst & Young (EY), she became the first female partner in the Detroit/Toledo practice and later served as managing partner of the Toledo office, providing strategic guidance to Fortune 500 clients and mentoring the next generation of finance leaders.
Her contributions to ONU reflect her dedication to independent higher education. Since joining the Board of Trustees in 2005, Hershberger has served as vice chair, chair, and chair emerita, overseeing strategic planning initiatives, a presidential transition, and the record-breaking “Forward Together” campaign, which raised $112 million to support scholarships, faculty excellence, and campus facilities. She has also established endowed scholarships, including the Pamela S. Hershberger Ernst & Young Endowed Scholarship and an estate-funded scholarship to support students with financial need.
“Pam personifies the transformative power of private higher education,” said ONU President Melissa J. Baumann, Ph.D. “Her ONU experience was not only the launchpad for a trailblazing accounting career, but also for a lifelong commitment to ensuring that future generations have access to the same life-changing education.”
Hershberger’s induction into the OFIC Hall of Excellence celebrates not only her professional accomplishments but also her lasting impact on students, the university, and the broader community, hallmarks of the award’s criteria for recognizing leadership, service, and the value of an independent college education.