President Kimo Ah Yun announced today that an $8 million planned gift from alumnus Jim Meier will advance key priorities across Marquette University, supporting student access and opportunity, academic excellence and athletics.
Meier, a 1984 graduate of the College of Business Administration and a member of the President’s Advisory Council, established scholarships for two distinctive Marquette programs — the longstanding Urban Scholars program and the prestigious Michael R. Lovell Scholars program. In addition, he committed funding to strategic initiatives in the College of Business Administration and Marquette Athletics. A longtime supporter of Marquette men’s basketball, Meier also directed a portion of his gift to the program’s Excellence Fund.
“It has largely been with the passage of time that I came to realize that Marquette provided me with a very solid academic and personal foundation that I used to build my career and future,” Meier said. “Marquette is a key component of the Milwaukee and Wisconsin communities. These are the five areas that stand out to me that I believe Marquette must continue to nurture to ensure a strong future.”
Beyond his philanthropic support, Meier has given generously of his time as a volunteer leader for decades. His service has touched areas across the university and the country, including the Time to Rise campaign, the College of Business Administration, Alumni Reunion Weekend, admissions, athletics, Chicago CIRCLES and more.
“We sincerely appreciate Jim’s generosity and his longstanding commitment to giving back to Marquette through extraordinary volunteer service,” President Kimo Ah Yun said. “Through this significant gift, Jim is opening doors for students and investing in our remarkable people and programs.”
Investing in distinctive programs
For nearly two decades, Marquette’s Urban Scholars program has provided high-achieving students from the Milwaukee area with full-tuition need-based scholarships and a strong network of support, mentorship and opportunities designed to help them thrive. More than 90% of Urban Scholars have historically graduated from Marquette — a testament to the program’s enduring impact.
Marquette’s Lovell Scholars program is a national presidential scholarship program that honors the legacy of the university’s 24th president, Dr. Michael R. Lovell. The program carries forth his deep desire to grow academic excellence, while bolstering student well-being, growth and access. The program benefits outstanding students who are grounded in humility and committed to the pillars of Marquette’s mission: excellence, faith, leadership and service.
“Jim’s desire to ensure that more students have the opportunity to experience a Marquette education is inspirational,” said Vice President for University Advancement Tim McMahon. “Whenever Jim is called upon to serve, he enthusiastically says yes. Through both his generosity and steadfast volunteer leadership, Jim is helping to positively shape Marquette’s story for generations to come.”
Bolstering business and athletics
Meier is a fixture on the sidelines at Marquette Athletics events and said he recognizes the importance of supporting student-athletes amid the ever-changing NCAA landscape.
“Marquette has really stayed true to the concept of what it means to be a student-athlete,” Meier said. “That has never been more important.” His gift will provide athletics leadership with additional resources to navigate this changing environment while ensuring student-athletes receive the highest level of wrap-around support on and off the playing fields.
“Our athletic programs mean so much to this university, and this gift will lift up our 330 student-athletes,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Broeker said. Meier emphasized the important role athletics plays in providing a broader benefit for all students. “Jim has always been a valued partner who understands the powerful role athletics plays in the development of our student-athletes in the spirit of cura personalis. He recognizes how these experiences help shape young people as leaders and has continually leaned in to make a meaningful impact.”
A longtime finance executive with MillerCoors, Meier also recognizes the importance of preparing the next generation of business leaders. Marquette Business is recognized nationally for academic excellence and a distinctive approach to applied learning that connects students directly with industry. Its nationally ranked programs include real estate, finance, supply chain management, accounting and business analytics.
“As we build on Marquette Business’s strong momentum, philanthropic support like this helps us expand opportunities for our students and continue delivering an exceptional business education,” said Andrew DeGuire, James H. Keyes Dean of the College of Business Administration. “We are deeply grateful to Jim for his generosity, his belief in our mission and his commitment to helping Marquette Business grow, innovate and excel.”
