Wentworth's New VP of Advancement Built Reputation in Health Care and Higher Education

Crate Herbert, a pathbreaking fundraiser for health care programs and academia, has been named vice president of Institutional Advancement at Wentworth Institute of Technology.

“Crate is a mission-driven leader with more than two decades of development experience,” said Wentworth President Mark A. Thompson. “She has distinguished herself throughout her career by establishing highly effective collaborations in large and small organizations.”

Herbert, who starts her new position at Wentworth in January, said she is “humbled and energized” by the opportunity to join the Institute at a pivotal point in its history. The Boston-based, STEM-focused university has been implementing a bold strategic plan launched by Thompson when he began his tenure at the school in June 2019.

“President Thompson’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion aligns strongly with my own sense of mission,” said Herbert, “and I am eager to contribute to the community that he and his administration are building.”

She said she was drawn to Wentworth by its reputation for transforming lives and educating skilled workers who are vital to the country’s economy and technological progress.

Thompson said he and Herbert will work together on all aspects of philanthropy and focus on bolstering connections to alumni, external partners and donors. The two will also collaborate on launching Wentworth’s first comprehensive capital campaign.

Before arriving in Boston in 2007, Herbert lived in New York where she started her career in philanthropy. She also sang opera in concerts and productions in New York City, San Francisco, Italy and Japan, and ran a private voice studio. Herbert retired from performing more than 10 years ago but said she sometimes uses her music background in her philanthropy work.

“I draw a lot of parallels between the skills I honed singing and those I utilize as a development leader. Making music taught me a lot about listening, timing, patience, self-awareness and compassion.”

Herbert has been working at Harvard University since 2007. For the past four years, she has been executive director of Development for the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. She led a successful campaign there, amassing $675 million in philanthropic support and surpassing a $450 million goal set for the Paulson School as part of a Harvard-wide campaign. Herbert also served as executive director for campaign priorities and initiatives for Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences; as director of leadership giving for the Harvard College Fund; and senior major gifts officer at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

She also was the director of development for Women at Risk, a breast cancer program at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. She received a B.A. in music and philosophy from Earlham College and an M.A. in music from The University of Texas at Austin.