Alumna Creates a Legacy of Love and Learning

The parents of Monica Herwald ’83 modeled a love of learning and a curiosity about the world. In her 40s, with six children, her mother graduated from nursing school as one of the highest-ranking students in her class.

Motivated by her example, Monica attended college while caring for her mother. She chose UMass Boston because of its reasonable cost, proximity and excellent reputation. The education she received gave her the confidence to excel.

“I loved UMass Boston,” she said. “It was a real mixed group of people who were older, working people, parents, veterans, you name it. As an older student myself, these were my people.”

After earning her master’s in social work, Monica applied her training to helping people in a range of community-based and inpatient hospital settings, including bereavement support.

Much of her career focused on geriatrics and underserved populations: She created an innovative bilingual hospital-based service for Russian immigrants and support programs for a growing Chinese elderly population.

Monica and her husband, Steven Herwald, recently created a $400,000 bequest intention to establish the Herwald Family Scholarship Fund, for any student at UMass Boston who has a need. They believe strongly in the mission of universal access to a quality education.

“We don’t have children and want to do something meaningful with whatever is left when we are gone,” she said. “UMass Boston came to my mind first during our estate planning. I would not have been able to get through school without support, and I want to offer that to other people.”

You, like the Herwalds, can create a legacy that makes a lasting impact for UMass Boston and our students. Please contact Anthony J. Barbuto, Esq., at 617.388.4558 or Anthony.Barbuto@umb.edu to get started.