Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient Always Willing to Help Current Students
Springfield College alumnus Herbert H. “Herb” Jervis ’64, G’66, PhD, JD, has returned to campus on multiple occasions to talk with current students.
By: Damon Markiewicz
Springfield College alumnus Herbert H. “Herb” Jervis ’64, G’66, PhD, JD, will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award as part of Homecoming Weekend, October 15-18. Jervis is a retired, accomplished attorney, intellectual-property executive, and educator. His professional career has focused on intellectual property, innovation, and the legal protection of technology and plant-related discoveries.
As part of Jervis’ impressive career, he has been admitted to practice before the bars of New York state, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“This award illustrates the powerful influence Springfield College has on its students,” explained Jervis. “Springfield College took a chance on me. I was provided with the tools to learn how to learn and how to master critical thinking.”
Following his graduation from Springfield College, Jervis went on to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees in Molecular Genetics from Florida State University in 1971 and 1973, respectively. He also received his Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University in 1987.
Jervis went on to pursue a legal career and became a nationally recognized practitioner in intellectual property law, with particular expertise in the agricultural biotechnology and seed industries. He served as vice president and chief intellectual property counsel of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., one of the world's leading agricultural seed companies. In that role, he was involved in intellectual-property strategy and the protection and management of innovations within the plant and agricultural biotechnology fields.
His expertise in plant intellectual property also led to an impressive academic career. Jervis served as an adjunct professor of intellectual property law at Florida Coastal School of Law from 2004 through 2013. During this time, he developed and taught the first offering in Licensing of Intellectual Property, and developed and taught an offering in Introduction to Patent Law.
Jervis originally sharpened his curriculum development and teaching experiences at Adelphi University. In the spring of 1975, he developed and taught the first offering in Introduction to Immunology. He would later advance his career in teaching a variety of courses in biology, applied microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, and physiological chemistry.
A respected author to many peer-reviewed publications, Jervis was a contributing author of Intellectual Property Law of Plants, published by Oxford University Press in 2014. The book examines the complex legal frameworks surrounding plant varieties, plant breeding, biotechnology, patents, and other forms of intellectual property.
Beyond his professional career, Jervis has devoted decades to strengthening the Springfield College community through leadership, philanthropy, mentorship, and service. Together with his wife, Mary, he has supported innovation and entrepreneurship through the Jervis Makerspace in the Springfield College Brown Cooper Health Sciences Center. In recent years, he has returned to campus to speak with students about patents and their potential role in innovation and entrepreneurship in health care.
A distinguished alumnus, trustee emeritus, and longtime champion of the College and its students, his enduring commitment reflects the values of leadership, service, and giving back that define our Humanics philosophy.
A proud member of the Class of 1964, Jervis played a leadership role in the Class of 1964’s historic 50th Reunion campaign, which raised more than $406,000 for Springfield College, including significant support for student scholarships.
Throughout his career and personal life, Jervis has combined legal and business expertise with a commitment to innovation, education, and service.
His work in intellectual property helped shape the legal protection of innovation in agriculture and biotechnology, while his continuing involvement with Springfield College reflects a lifelong commitment to supporting students and the institution that helped launch his career.
Amazing alumni like this are proof of the power of a Springfield College education. Your support helps us continue preparing students to lead in service to others—true to our Humanics philosophy. Give today to support the next generation.
