Biography

As a senior fellow in the Health Program, Phyllis D. Meadows engages in all levels of grantmaking activity. Since joining The Kresge Foundation in 2009, she has advised the Health team on the development of its overall strategic direction and provided leadership in the design and implementation of grantmaking initiatives and projects. Phyllis also has coached team members and created linkages to national organizations and experts in the health field. In addition, she regularly reviews grant proposals, aids prospective grantees in preparing funding requests, and provides health-related expertise. “As a health professional, it is gratifying to see that Kresge recognizes the importance of public health and has made a major commitment to investing in the sector,” Phyllis says. “This is a fabulous opportunity for me to work on the ground floor with a major national foundation in shaping the direction and scope of its philanthropic funding for health.” Phyllis’ 30-year career spans the nursing, public health, academic, and philanthropic sectors. She is the former associate dean for practice at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and Clinical Professor in Health Management and Pollicy. She has lectured and served as adjunct faculty at Wayne State University’s School of Nursing, Oakland University’s School of Nursing, and Marygrove College. From 2004 to 2009, Phyllis served in roles of deputy director, director and public health officer at the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion (Detroit Health Department). In the early 1990s, she traveled abroad as a Kellogg International Leadership Fellow and subsequently joined the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a program director. She also served as director of nursing for The Medical Team - Michigan. She maintains an active role on many national, statewide and local non-profit boards focusing on improving the health of communities across the country.