A Q&A with Campaign Cabinet Member James J. Heck
Photo courtesy James Heck
Though not an alumnus himself, James J. Heck’s Bellarmine roots run deep. A graduate of Bucknell University, his Bellarmine story began when his parents met as students.
Within a few years of graduating, Paula ’70 and Jim ’72 began their life together and launched successful careers in science. Over the years, they visited campus and shared memories with James of how it shaped their future. Following Paula’s passing, James established the Paula Zarrella Heck Endowed Scholarship Fund to support first-generation female science students, a tribute to her trailblazing path. Today, he bridges his family’s history with Bellarmine’s future, traveling from his lifelong home in New Jersey to serve as a university trustee and a member of the Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future Campaign Cabinet, helping ensure the university remains a transformational force for the next generation.
Describe your connection to Bellarmine and its meaning for your family and the community.
My connection is really a family legacy. My parents were both grads; it’s where they met and fell in love. Growing up, I constantly heard about Bellarmine. Even though I didn’t attend school there, we visited campus every time we returned to Kentucky to see family. My father’s time there was pivotal to his development as a scientist; for my mother, a first-generation student in the sciences, it was the beginning of a legacy. For me, it represents a foundation of opportunity.
To the community, Bellarmine is an economic and cultural engine that produces graduates with a unique brand of compassion. For a relatively small Catholic university, it has a massive economic impact on Louisville and Kentucky. Many students come from elsewhere, fall in love with the community, and stay to build their careers in Louisville.
Why do you choose to support Bellarmine?
It comes down to the students. When I visit campus, I try to meet with them to understand their personal stories and ambitions. I am consistently touched by their passion for learning and desire to make a difference. Supporting Bellarmine isn’t just about maintaining an institution; it’s about keeping a thriving community sustainable in the long term, so it continues to develop wonderful people who go out and change the world.
What is the future you are most excited to help build at Bellarmine?
We must continue to develop innovative methods that meet students exactly where they are, realizing the best balance of flexible, asynchronous learning alongside the essential in-person experience that is so important to the university’s unique community spirit. These tools are important to continually develop modern experiences that expand learning opportunities for our students. I am also excited about external partnerships. We have a fantastic relationship with Norton Healthcare, and I’d love to see similar partnerships in business and other disciplines to ensure students continue to have world-class experiential learning and career placement.
What inspired you to play a role in this campaign at this time?
Higher education is facing significant challenges, from shifting funding sources to changing perspectives on its value. It is a critical time to ensure Bellarmine’s sustainability — to ensure its approach to education perseveres. It’s not becoming less expensive or less complex to educate students, and I am proud to use my time and interactions with the university to enable its mission to continue for another 75 years and beyond.
How does Bellarmine’s mission translate into the professional world and society in general?
There is a common sentiment that a Bellarmine grad is simply different. Whether a nurse, a teacher, or any other field, there is an inherent compassion and a focus on mind, body, and spirit that comes from or is enhanced by their education. In today’s world, having professionals who are trained not just in a discipline but in how to love one another and work together toward the greater good is more important than ever.
What has been the best part of the campaign cabinet experience for you?
The holistic impact and the shared passion of my fellow board members have been inspiring. It is incredibly impactful — even contagious — to see the dedication of long-term trustees who are not even alumni, yet are so deeply committed to the Bellarmine tradition.
If you were talking with someone thinking of making a gift, how would you convince them that their contribution is an investment rather than just a donation?
I would challenge them to sit down and talk with a student. When you hear the story of a first-generation student and realize how Bellarmine is literally transforming their life, you see that your money isn’t just a donation to a fund — it’s an investment in a person who will go out and impact the world. Your gift is an investment in the global community.
What is your advice to someone interested in giving to Bellarmine but doesn’t know where to start?
Find the area you are passionate about — a specific degree, sports program, or purpose like addressing inequality in education. You don’t have to be a traditional donor. Talk to the development team. They are wonderful at helping you align your gift with both the university’s needs and your own spirit of giving and helping determine the best way to give — whether it’s an immediate contribution, an endowment, or an estate plan. There is a way for every gift and every donor to be transformational.