John H. Herbst

Trustee Emeritus and National Parliamentarian Emeritus

At the University of Kentucky (UK), John Herbst served as the executive director of the Student Center from 1997-2019. Previously, he was the director of student activities at UK. He has been recognized nationally as both the Outstanding Student Government Advisor (2000) and the Outstanding Student Activities Director (1985), and he has also served on the national Board of Directors of the National Association for Campus Activities. In addition to his responsibilities as director of the student center, he also serves as the University Commencement Committee Chairman and was on the university’s SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation Team. He has also been a member of the University Student Affairs Crisis Response Team and is FEMA certified as a Campus-Community Emergency Response Team Trainer.

John has produced a number of entertainment shows for television and Lexington Gala Fundraisers, including serving as Executive Producer for “Ladies of Note,” recognized by the National Educational Television Association as first place major concert performance in a major market.

John was initiated into the University of Kentucky’s Nu Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa in 1985. He has served as the faculty secretary/circle coordinator of the circle since 1991. From 2006-10, he was a regional director for O∆K, and he was national convention chair in 2002. He has also been a member of the General Council and a faculty province director. John has also served as parliamentarian for the 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018 conventions. John currently serves Omicron Delta Kappa as a faculty/staff trustee. His current term on the board ends in June 2020.

He is a recipient of both the Eldridge Roark Meritorious Service Award and the Cheryl M. Hogle Distinguished Service Award. He has chaired both the National Public Relations Committee and the National Awards Committee. John was a member of the National Advisory Council from 2010-16.

In his free time, John is a commercial hot air balloon pilot and enjoys travelling and spending time with his son, Marshall. He also has served as the chairman of Christian Education at his church in Lexington. John also currently serves on the board of directors of a private Christian school in Lexington, Kentucky, the community in which he resides.