President James Herbert named one of 40 'Digital Leaders to Follow'

University of New England President James D. Herbert, Ph.D., has been listed among the “40 Digital Leaders to Follow” during the COVID-19 era by Josie Ahlquist, Ed.D., a digital leadership educator and consultant with decades of experience in technology research.

The list of 40 college and university administrators and professional staff highlights the strategies campus leaders have implemented to remain engaging, approachable, and accessible through social media.

“The ways in which campus leaders show up in digital spaces will have a lasting impact on the reputation of their institution, and more importantly, which students decide to enroll, whether current students decide to stay, which alumni will give back, and the list goes on,” Ahlquist writes.

Ahlquist lauded President Herbert for his digital presence throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic, particularly his active use of social media to share University news and updates and connect with students as they navigate the new normal. She also praised Herbert’s transparency in sharing the UNE Onward plan for resumption of on-campus operations in the fall directly with his audience.

“James Herbert embraces an integrated approach to his online presence. On Instagram, he shares the Return to Campus plan directly in his bio, while also sharing a touching personal post on the importance of wearing a mask. He also takes advantage of Facebook live streams to connect with students,” Ahlquist said.

Read the full 40 Digital Leaders to Follow list.