Her first professional career was in mental health in Tennessee. She was coordinator of children’s services in a mental health center serving five rural counties. This evolved into consultation and program development with a juvenile court system, corporations, and schools. She also designed and delivered continuing education courses. Herbers began teaching psychology courses at an art college which first led to a position in Student Services and ultimately a return to higher education for a doctoral degree. The research for her dissertation fostered a deep interest in transformative learning experiences in higher education and through community education. The focal point of her research is Highlander Folk School, a center for adult education for social justice movements since 1932.