How Reverend Herb Schmidt Impacted Santa Cruz

Reflections on Decades of Campus Ministry at UCSC

By Sahasra Akula July 19, 2026

Reverend Herb Schmidt was a courageous campus pastor and community organizer. He dedicated over 60 years of ministry. He moved to Santa Cruz in 1960 to serve the Messiah Lutheran Church. He quickly became a central figure. Throughout his career his work was focused on faith, social justice, and a deep commitment to helping students. 

Experience at UCSC

1968 was the year Pastor Schmidt accepted a call to serve as the first Campus Pastor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. In his role, he was crucial to shaping the university’s spiritual and academic environment. He helped establish the University Religious Council which still exists today. He also played a crucial role in launching the Religious Studies program. This created an environment where faith and critical inquiry could exist at the same time. He closely worked with Paul Lee to create a community that was focused on service. 

Specific Projects at UCSC

Through the co-founding of the United Services Agency (USA), Herb launched several crucial projects that connected the university campus with the downtown community. This includes The Whole Earth Restaurant. This was the first major project launched by the USA organization. Located on the UCSC campus, the restaurant aimed to provide financial support for other community service projects and start ups which lacked funding. Another vital project was the Campus Day Care Center. Schmidt and Lee recognized the need for childcare within the university environment. The day care center simply began as an initiative but eventually expanded into an entire network of daycare centers across the UCSC campus. The student volunteer corps was also a significant project undertaken by Schmidt. The program paired UCSC students with marginalized communities in downtown Santa Cruz. Students were able to work directly with organizations and educational equity programs. This specific project helped lay the groundwork for the university’s public service. Reverend Herb Schmidt did not just offer students a place to worship, but he also gave them the resources to reshape the landscape of Santa Cruz. 

Connection to college students

Schmidt has a rare and magnetic ability to be able to connect with young adults. He never spoke at students, he instead stood with them. He valued their ideas and acknowledged their worries and anxieties. He believed in the potential of college students in that they are the leaders of the next generation and drivers of justice. Herb empowered generations of youth to use their privilege for systematic change. He taught students how to build intentional structures around their values. His legacy still lives on through the community leaders he has mentored, the nonprofits he has nourished.

Donator

Support the Projects of Santa Cruz and Greater Bay Area communities

Donate to United Services Agency