Pacific Lutheran University

Herbert-Hill, director of cooperative education and academic internships, has worked in cooperative education for 16 years at a number of institutions in the Pacific Northwest. The Northwest Career Educators and Employers Association will recognize her years of service by presenting her with their highest honor, the James E. Lawson Service Award, at the association’s annual awards banquet on April 26.

The award honors James Elliot Lawson, a dedicated cooperative education professional from Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., who was tragically killed in a car accident more than 20 years ago. Instead of being granted yearly, the award is only given when the association receives a nomination for a member they believe is worthy of the recognition, Herbert-Hill said.

“It feels like the pinnacle of my career to have my colleagues in the greater Pacific Northwest acknowledge that I’ve reached this level of professional achievement,” Herbert-Hill said. “It blows me away.”

Herbert-Hill’s nomination for the award noted her active participation in the association, including serving on numerous committees, on the board and as the president. It also cited several initiatives she has implemented that have added value to the programs at the schools where she has worked.

At PLU, Herbert-Hill’s resourcefulness has resulted in a number of events to help students prepare for the workforce, such as last spring’s image and etiquette dinner attended by nearly 100 students, said Pat Roundy, dean for student academic success and Herbert-Hill’s supervisor.

“Maxine Herbert-Hill has brought leadership and a clear sense of the values of internships and cooperative education,” Roundy said. “She’s highly deserving of this award.”

Herbert-Hill entered the cooperative education profession by accident. While earning her master’s degree in educational leadership at Seattle University, she took a part-time, grant-funded position to expand Pierce College’s internship program and got hooked.

“I saw the potential of cooperative education,” she said. “There’s diversity. You work with students, work with employers and facilitate the relationship so both parties succeed.”

That same year, she attended the association’s annual conference, which was included as part of the grant, and has been a member ever since. The association helps her stay up-to-date on issues relating to students entering the workforce, and she’s been able to build relationships with other professionals and learn from their experiences, she said.

For example, one of the biggest issues facing recent graduates is the blending of generations in the workplace because the older and younger generations approach work much differently. By understanding the issues recent graduates may experience, Herbert-Hill is able to better prepare PLU graduates for their professional life after graduation.

Roundy described Herbert-Hill as innovative, creative and patient, and someone who is constantly working for the benefit of the students. In the three years that Roundy has worked with Herbert-Hill, the cooperative education program has grown tremendously, she said.

Since coming to PLU, Herbert-Hill worked with CATS to develop a database system that tracks students and employers involved in cooperative education. She’s also worked with students to create a Web site for the program, which makes it easy for students, faculty and employers to find and post positions.

To learn more about PLU’s cooperative education program and academic internships, visit www.plu.edu/~intern.