Michael E. Herman ’62 earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his MBA from the University of Chicago. A distinguished Rensselaer alumnus, Mike Herman is the Institute's leading supporter of developing an entrepreneurial mindset as a way to complement the education of Rensselaer students and as a way to help them to think, learn and succeed.

Mike Herman is currently serving as President of the Herman Family Trading Company. From January 1992 to December 2000, Mr. Herman was President of the Kansas City Royals Baseball Club. From January 1990 to December 1999, he was Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee of the Kauffman Foundation and was its President from January 1985 to December 1990.

Mr. Herman is a Trustee of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a member of the Livingston W. Houston Society of Patroons at Rensselaer and, in 1998, he was awarded an honorary doctorate, along with presenting the Institute’s Commencement address.

Mr. Herman joined Marion Laboratories in October 1974 as Vice President of Finance, he went on to become Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and a Director of the Corporation until December 1990. He was a founding partner of Dryden Company, a private investment banking firm in New York. Prior to that, Herman was a Vice President of Laird, Inc., Investment Bankers in New York City.

He is a director of Santarus, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company; Cerner Inc., a health care information technology company; New Enterprise Associates (NEA), a leading venture capital firms focused on information technology and healthcare investments; Senomyx Inc., developer of proprietary food, beverage, and ingredient taste receptor technologies; and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He also served as a director of Janus Capital and Eloquent, Inc. until March of 2003. Additionally, he previously served as Chairman of the Board of Tanabe-Marion Labs, Inc. and was a member of the Board of Directors of Marion Labs, Nordic Labs, Agouron Pharmaceuticals, and Circon, Inc.

Mike Herman is married to Karen Herman. Karen Herman is the past President of the Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City and President of the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education. She was recently named "Woman of the Year" in Kansas City. Karen is a member of the Board of Directors of the Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City, the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, and has previously served on the Board Temple B'Nai Jehudah. She is also active in ending world hunger and supporting female entrepreneurs. The Hermans have two children – Jolyan, who is also an entrepreneur, along with her husband Martin she owns an alternative health clinic in San Francisco. Their son, Brooks is Director of International Programs for People to People.

Karen and Mike Herman have also established The Herman Family Fellowship for Women in Entrepreneurship, a prestigious award granted to Women in the Lally School MBA program. The prize supports up to two women, in pursuing their entrepreneurial interests, with a first year tuition waiver and a stipend. In the second year, a Dean's assistantship is awarded to the candidates.

"Developing female entrepreneurs has been dear to our family. All of us, in our own way, have an entrepreneurial spirit. By creating and leading the Women's Foundation of Kansas City, Karen has had tremendous impact in the lives of girls and women in Kansas City." said Mr. Herman.