From Nursing to Business - Maribeth Herod,'82, Discovered Her Passion at JMU

As a nursing student at JMU in the late 1970s, Maribeth Herod realized that computers would revolutionize every industry in the future--even healthcare. Wanting to make herself more adaptable in her future career, Herod enrolled in a BASIC computer programming course.

“I discovered a passion for technology,” says Herod, who enrolled at JMU as part of the university’s first class of nursing students set to graduate with baccalaureate degrees. “For me, computer programming was like solving a puzzle. It came very naturally to me, and it made sense to go down this path.”

As a result, Herod moved to the College of Business after two-and-a-half years in JMU’s nursing program, earning a bachelor’s degree in management and MIS in 1982. She found technology and the business world to be a perfect fit.

Now a senior vice president and operational risk executive for Bank of America, one of the world’s largest banks, Herod focuses on all accounts and loan servicing for the bank. She previously served as a senior quality control executive building the operational processes and reporting for the bank. Before joining Bank of America, Herod was a vice president of Enterprise Programs for Freddie Mac and a partner in the Business Consulting Practice of Arthur Andersen, LLP. She  also worked in telecommunications industry for AT&T and MCI.

Herod’s ability to engage with people--an ability that she says was strengthened by JMU’s focus on experiential learning--has contributed to her success both in technology and in business.

“I quickly became a conduit or translator between the business environment and technology,” says Herod. “I learned how to adapt and translate business requirements into technical requirements. As a result, my career manifested itself in migrating away from the technology side and more to the business side.”

Dedicated to her alma mater, Herod has served on the JMU College of Business Board of Advisors for more than a decade, including stints as vice chair and chair. A member of the search committee that hired CoB Dean Mary Gowan, Herod has served on the CoB’s AACSB accreditation committee and recently was appointed by JMU President Jonathan Alger to serve on a capital campaign committee.

As a member of the CoB Board of Advisors, Herod enjoys the opportunity to weigh in on the curriculum and offer advice on how the university can prepare students to address challenges facing the business world. Mostly, she enjoys meeting students and celebrating their successes.

“The students continue to be awe-inspiring,” says Herod, a dedicated mentor for young women starting business careers, including several JMU graduates. “Their perspective, their interest, their enthusiasm and their intelligence is just incredible. I’m really glad I don’t have to compete with them.”

Herod says she admires the CoB faculty for their passion and their engagement with the students. As the keynote speaker for the CoB Commencement exercises in May 2014, Herod was impressed by the sight of new graduates walking across the platform to accept their diplomas and stopping to embrace their favorite faculty members, rather than shaking hands.  

“I don’t think you can find stronger evidence of the impact of faculty to student engagement,” Herod says. “It was very moving, and it really illustrates the difference at JMU.”