The Barbara Rose Herman Scholarship

Barbara Herman, Interior Designer for thirty five years in Worcester, Massachusetts has decided to “give back” to the Worcester community that had been her home for many years and that had provided her with so many wonderful opportunities throughout her career. Worcester State University, with its legacy of educating women, is the beneficiary of her generous intentions.

Barbara strongly believes that Worcester State is educating the future entrepreneurs and outstanding citizens of her beloved city, and she wants to help sustain this positive momentum. She rallied her many generous friends, clients and business associates to support her cause to build a scholarship fund at the University. This scholarship will provide access to women who otherwise may never be able to garner the financial support to fully succeed at Worcester State University.

Barbara’s choice to focus on educating women is not random. Many would call her a pioneer of her generation as women entrepreneurs were rare in the sixties. Specifically, at a time when women were encouraged to marry young or become the stereotypical nurse or secretary, Barbara defied the odds. Initially for the most part she did fit the mold. In fact married at 18, had five kids, and worked as a secretary for some time. This however was not enough for this gregarious artistic person with a natural ability to put colors together and place furniture. She became certified as a designer at New York School of Interior Design and Rhode Island School of Design. At this point, her philosophy of “designing a home environment that was so beautiful and unique to each client that he or she were happier there than any other place in the world” was born. Barbara Herman Interiors opened its creative doors and set on a path that led to intrinsic creative satisfaction as well as financial success and independence.

In the span of 37 years, Barbara was the lead decorator on over 700 residential homes, decorated 10 designer show house homes, and was a feature writer and talk show host on Residential Interior Design. Her commercial projects included the Allmerica Financial executive offices (now the Hanover Insurance Group), Cabot Safety Corporation executive offices, Clark University Goddard Library’s reading room, the Dairy Council of America’s offices and conference rooms, the Memorial Hospital’s alumni library and archival room, Westboro Toyota’s showroom and offices, and the dining and function rooms of the Boynton Restaurant in Worcester. She was listed in Who’s Who in Interior Design and Who’s Who in American Women.