Hillsdale College Welcomes New Trustee to Its Board of Trustees

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HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College announces the addition James J. Meeks as the newest member to its Board of Trustees.  

“The Hillsdale College Board of Trustees has ensured the governance of the College since 1844,” said Rich Péwé, chief administrative officer and secretary to the Board. “Mr. Meeks will build on Hillsdale’s long legacy of providing a liberal arts education outstanding among American universities.”  

James J. Meeks is the founder of Rapids Venture, an incubator focused on innovative solutions that tap into the manufacturing and entrepreneurial capabilities of the state of Michigan. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. Meeks served in the U.S. Army in Iraq as a tank commander. He has worked for several large corporations, such as MOVE Systems, Optoro, SA Renewables, and Swissport. In addition to founding Rapids Venture in 2019, he is the creator or co-founder of several start-ups, including 2Seeds Network, Inc., Iris Technologies, Inc., and JustAir Solutions. He and his wife Jennifer live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  

For a headshot of James Meeks, click here 

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 5.7 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Emily Stack Davis
517-607-2730 (work)
517-803-3745 (cell)
[email protected]
For all other inquiries contact Hillsdale College at 517-437-7341