By Lauren Lucy

Herod’s senior portrait.

In August 1982, Missy Herod decided to return to her hometown of Richmond, Virginia, and work at the school she once attended herself. She only committed to working for one semester, but 80 semesters later, she embarked on her final one this spring, as Upper School Associate Director of Student Life. Herod plans to retire at the end of this school year. 

Herod was a graduate of the Collegiate class of 1972 and attended Collegiate from 1st to 12th Grade. Even though Herod did not begin Collegiate in Kindergarten, she did attend Collegiate for 13 years, because she broke both legs and was in a body cast from falling down steps, causing her to miss so much school she had to repeat the second grade. While Herod was a student at Collegiate, she was involved in five varsity sports and six clubs. She competed on the Collegiate gymnastics team, as well as the basketball, lacrosse, field hockey, and tennis teams. She was involved in the Athletic Counsel, Student Cooperative Association (SCA), French Club, American Field Service Club, (AFS), Science Club, and she was the sports editor for The Match.

Herod’s 1st grade class at Collegiate in 1960. She is seated on the floor, third from left.

Over the span of Herod’s time as a student and employee at Collegiate, she has seen not only the campus change but the way of life on campus. She explained that, when she was a student, “Collegiate was your life.” During the school year, the only thing to do were activities involving school. Their school day would end at 2:30 p.m. followed by a 2:30-4:30 p.m. sports practice. Then, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. she either attended play practice, Match meetings, or clubs, depending on the day. 

Herod’s basketball team. She is number 10.

When she was in Upper School, traditions that are still in place today were even more significant. For example, when it came to Brunch, the senior and fleur relationship was a significant part of the school culture, and there would be many more activities between them. Herod stated, “We went to the fair and circus, and we would each put on a dinner for our seniors. We would have skits, cooking, and movie night with our seniors.” Prom was a major event as well, and Herod stated, “We decorated the cafeteria [now McFall Hall] to the point where it wasn’t recognizable anymore. We would have two bands, and the dance lasted pretty much all night.” She talked about how the first band would play, and then everyone would go to the gym, change into comfortable clothes, eat a large meal, and return to the dance with the second band. Prom was much more casual, and everyone went home at around 2:30 a.m. 

The 1972 Match Editorial Board. Herod is 2nd from right in the back row.

The campus has also partially played a role in how Collegiate has changed socially. When Herod attended Collegiate, the current Middle School building, Flippen Hall, was where the girls had classes, and the current Upper School building, Pitt Hall, was for boys’ classes. The two would interact during lunch and free periods but would not have classes together. Also, all of the sports fields and courts were on campus. When practices were over, everyone could walk to another team’s game and support their classmates. Herod stated, “that’s something that’s changed that I really miss a lot. Before Robins was created, everyone could walk to every game going on, and it really brought the community together.” 

Collegiate’s campus in 1972.

After Herod graduated from Collegiate, she attended Ursinus College and was a pre-med major.  While she was in college, she played Division I field hockey, squash, badminton, lacrosse, and tennis. 

After she graduated from Ursinus, she taught in Philadelphia at the Kimberton Waldorf School, where she taught biology, physical education, and political science. She coached sports, was the athletic director and was head of health and wellness. 

Herod then went to South Africa for six months, where she played on a women’s international field hockey team. She went to South Africa during apartheid, when no teams were supposed to travel to that country, so their team had to travel secretly. They went to protest against South Africa’s segregation within sports and to ensure that all races had the ability to compete with and against each other. 

Herod (center) with Upper School Director of Student Life Beth Kondorossy (left) and Upper School Health and Wellness Department Chair Annie Richards (right).

Following her six months in South Africa, Herod moved to London, where she taught for a year and worked for the All England Women’s Lacrosse Association. She also helped direct the first women’s lacrosse tournament in London.

After her international experiences, Herod returned home to Richmond and came to Collegiate. At the time, she coached field hockey and winter and spring soccer. She started off in the Health and Wellness department, teaching Physical Education and sports. Then she made her way up to working for the administration and started organizing Pageant and helping lead SCA and Judicial Council.

As Herod has worked here over the years, she has been able to create so many connections with students. Ellie Smith (‘22) stated, “Ever since health class with her in 9th grade, she has been a faculty member who is easily approachable and easy to confide in.” She has truly become a safe space for students to go when they need to talk about anything and everything.

Herod with Upper School Administrative Assistant Julie Miller.

Mackenzie Ferguson (‘22) said,“Ms. Herod has been a mentor that I have felt comfortable going to about anything that I want to talk about. She’s never judgmental and always listening to you. She gives the best advice and obviously the best snacks.” As Herod leaves Collegiate next year, she has impacted so many students, and she will leave a lasting legacy on the Collegiate community. Upper School English teacher Vlastik Svab said he “will miss seeing students have Ms. Herod to go to as a safe space. Plus, she organizes so much behind the scenes here, like Pageant and dances and graduation. She’s probably the hardest working person on this campus. She will be greatly missed.”

All photos courtesy of The Torch and the Julia A. Williams Archive & Study Center.