Brotherhood, Service, and Showing Up: A Candid Q&A with Lt. Col. James Hiller

Lt. Col. James Hiller (Pi Tau ’85, Kappa Delta’s Beta Pi) offers an unfiltered look at leadership, service, and why alumni support matters. His reflections span military lessons, mentoring two very different chapters, the legacy of lifelong Zetes, and the motivation behind his philanthropic commitment.

Q: How did your experience as a regular officer in the United States Army shape your understanding of leadership and brotherhood? 

Lt Col James Hiller: To be honest, I was already a Zete before I took my commission. The Army didn’t change those core principles; it just amplified them. My path was a little different—I went backwards in a way, spending far more time embedded around the Army than the Air Force and receiving more joint awards. But whether you’re in a military unit or a chapter house, the fundamental truth is the same: you keep things within the circle. You protect your people, you hold each other accountable, and you execute. 

Q: What does the concept of “service” mean to you personally? 

JH: It means getting stuff done that needs to get done! Plain and simple. It doesn’t matter what the task is, who gets the credit, or how inconvenient it is. If it needs to happen for the good of the group, you step up and you get it done. 

Q: Is there a specific memory or brother who encapsulates what Zeta Psi means to you? 

JH: I’ve never been one for boasting about specific chapter stories, but I always think of Mike Sharon. He was the absolute epitome of a Zete. He never actually graduated from WPI, but he stayed around and supported the chapter for 45 years until he passed away in January 2016. He was always there. I actually suggested we create a Service Award in his honor, because that kind of lifelong loyalty is rare. It reminded me of similar figures I encountered in the military—the people who form the backbone of an organization just by showing up. 

Q: What is your piece of advice for active brothers today, and what is your ultimate hope for the future of Zeta Psi? 

JH: My advice is short: Just stick with it. Don’t quit when things get tight or complicated. As for the future, I want to see these chapters endure long after I’m gone. I hope Kappa Delta is celebrating its 50th anniversary down the road, and I hope Pi Tau crosses the 100-year mark. If we keep our focus on the undergrads, everything will be exactly the way it needs to be. 

Q: You have a unique footprint in the fraternity, bridging WPI (Pi Tau ’85) and George Mason University (Kappa Delta). How did you become the Beta Pi at GMU? 

JH: It was completely the luck of the draw. Kappa Delta chartered down here in Virginia during the pandemic. International staff reached out, and next thing I knew, I was on a plane with Evan P. He told me, ‘You missed the chartering,’ and I ended up getting involved as the Beta Pi. By February of 2021, I got in touch with Isaac Augustine, Kappa Delta ‘23, and we’ve been working together ever since. 

Q: WPI and George Mason are very different campuses. What common “Zete” traits do you see between the undergraduates of both chapters? 

JH: Culturally, the campuses have almost nothing in common. But structurally and generationally? I look at where the Kappa Delta chapter is right now, and I realize I am in the exact same place with them as I experienced at Pi Tau as an undergraduate—right down to the exact same date and month of development. I was the 88th member initiated at Pi Tau (Gamma Rho), and watching these GMU guys build their legacy feels incredibly familiar. The best part of mentoring them is the mutual respect; they treat me just like I am one of them. 

Q: You’ve hit a monumental milestone of $44,166.76 in lifetime giving to the Zeta Psi Educational Foundation, placing you in the Red Motley Circle. What motivates that level of financial generosity? 

JH: This organization is outstanding. The experience of Zeta Psi is something that has to be shared with as many young men as possible. When I look at where my donations go—whether it’s the 1847 Pledge Challenge, Zete4Life, or providing scholarships to our Canadian brothers—my focus is strictly on the undergraduate level. It’s about scholarship. It’s about keeping kids in school who might otherwise have to leave. It’s about giving them the financial floor to get things done.