President/CEO of Pulaski Electric System

I was born in the South, grew up in Texas and California, and I'm now living in the South again. After attending Hillsdale College, I was employed at the College for several years before taking a position with the City of Hillsdale. I married another Hillsdale College graduate, Sundown Burkman, '97, and we have a loving and growing family. After living in Hillsdale for 13 years, we moved away in 2005 when I took a position in Pulaski, Tennessee. I am now the president and chief executive officer of the Pulaski Electric System. PES is the power company and fiber-to-the-home broadband provider in Giles County, Tennessee.

I learned as much outside as inside the classroom. My on-campus work experiences helped me understand the importance of following through on the little things and doing my best all the time. Inside the classroom, I was educated on the foundational wisdom of Western thought. This has grounded me, and I've worked to build upon this body of knowledge ever since.

The friendships you develop at Hillsdale will define your college experience. Associate with people smarter than you are. They will push you to do more than you thought you could.

I knew Hillsdale College would provide me with a traditional liberal arts education. I wanted to explore the best of Western thought. I was interested in a serious school that would teach me serious things.

I learned that the human condition is complicated and layered. Easy answers are convenient, they are sometimes correct, but are rarely the full story. It is important to study carefully the issue at hand--whatever that issue may be--and think about it from all perspectives.

To this day, the friendships I made at Hillsdale are still the most meaningful in my life. My friends taught me a great deal about myself. I would not be the man I am today without their camaraderie, encouragement, and honesty.

wes@weskelley.me