Mark Meijer ’81, president of Life EMS Ambulance, business/community leader and Aquinas College alumnus, is serving as commencement speaker at the Aquinas commencement ceremony honoring the Class of 2022 on May 7. Meijer will also be recommended to receive an honorary degree.

Meijer is president of Life EMS Ambulance. He and his longtime friend and fellow paramedic, Ken Morris ’77, the current executive vice president of Life EMS, were two of the initial six paramedics at the founding of Life EMS in 1980. The operation began with just three emergency vehicles and a dispatch center that consisted of a card table with a telephone and a radio microphone. Today, Life EMS has grown to employ over 650 associates with a fleet of more than 150 vehicles serving ten counties throughout West Michigan. In addition, hundreds of students attend emergency medical training provided by the Life EMS Education Center. Life EMS associates work hard to ensure their trademark ‘skill and compassion’ is provided twenty-four hours a day throughout 4,200 square miles of emergency response area.

Under Meijer’s leadership, Life EMS of Grand Rapids and Life EMS of Kalamazoo were two of the first seventeen ambulance operations from across the country, and the first in West Michigan, to become fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS).

Meijer currently serves on the board of Meijer, Inc., the Van Andel Institute, Mobile Health Resources, Tandem365 and the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. He has previously served as President of the American Ambulance Association, the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services (MAAS) and the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. Meijer has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to serving others both on a local and national level. He continues to maintain licensure as a paramedic in the State of Michigan.

Meijer is a distinguished alumnus who has shown extreme generosity to Aquinas College. He exemplifies the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, service and community. He is a wonderful example for our graduates of the power of following your passion and purpose to find success. Meijer is married to Mary Beth, and they are the proud parents of daughter Gracie.

Meijer will receive a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa.

2022 Honorary Degree Recipients

Additional honorary degree recipients will include Lt General John Nowak, who will receive a Doctor of Philosophy, Honoris Causa, and Carolyn Sturrus, who will receive a Doctor of Education, Honoris Causa.

Honorary degree recipients will be celebrated along with the Aquinas College Class of 2022 on May 7, 2022. Graduates and their families are invited to attend a baccalaureate Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew at 10 a.m. with Bishop David John Walkowiak presiding. Commencement ceremonies will begin at 2 p.m. in the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center on the Aquinas College campus. Learn more about commencement here.