Ohio Northern University Alumna Pamela S. Hershberger Inducted into OFIC’s Hall of Excellence
Pamela S. Hershberger, Ohio Northern University
Columbus, Ohio – Thursday, April 9, 2026 – The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) is proud to announce that Pamela S. Hershberger, a 1987 graduate of Ohio Northern University’s Dicke College of Business Administration, has been inducted into the OFIC Hall of Excellence. Inductees are selected based on professional achievement, impact on society through service and leadership, and dedication to their alma mater, all qualities that Pamela Hershberger exemplifies.
A first-generation college student from a family farm, Hershberger excelled academically and athletically at Ohio Northern University, 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 Ohio Northern University 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.
Melissa Baumann, President, Ohio Northern University; Pam Hershberger; Jim Carulas, OFIC Board Chair; Bill Spiker, OFIC President.
“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.”
Her 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.
Learn more about the OFIC Hall of Excellence.
About Ohio Northern University
Founded in 1871, Ohio Northern University is a private institution committed to providing a transformative education that prepares students for lifelong success in their careers and communities. Learn more at https://www.onu.edu/.
About OFIC
The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges connects donors and partners with students in need, strengthening Ohio’s economic engine. OFIC partners with corporations and foundations to keep higher education affordable while providing scholarships, internships, and career opportunities that prepare students for workforce success. Learn more at https://www.ofic.org/.
Media Contacts
ONU – Dave Kielmeyer, d-kielmeyer@onu.edu
OFIC – Sarah Hance, hance@ofic.org