Jeanne Hess

Commissioner Jeanne Hess retired in August 2019 after 35 years as professor and chair of the Physical Education Department, and Volleyball Coach at Kalamazoo College. During her career, she spent time as assistant basketball coach, assistant softball coach and associate chaplain. Commissioner Hess was also involved in VISIONS, ERACCE, and Green Dot training at the college.

Jeanne earned her B.S. from the University of Michigan, where she was a member of the Wolverine volleyball team for four years. She went on to earn her M.A. in Exercise Science at Western Michigan University; a prelude to her teaching and coaching career at Kalamazoo College. WMU inducted her into the Alumni Honor Academy for Health, Physical Education and Recreation in April 2010. In 2014, Kalamazoo College awarded her the prestigious Lux Esto Award of Excellence, which honors an employee who has served Kalamazoo College for 26 or more years for a superlative record of stewardship and innovation. She also received the Frances Diebold Award for outstanding service to the community in June of 2000.