Kathleen M. Wilbur, Ph.D.

Kathleen M. Wilbur
  • Senior Vice President
  • Government Relations
  • Hannah Administration Bldg
  • 426 Auditorium Rd, Rm 484
  • East Lansing, MI 48824-1046
  • (517) 353-9000

BIOGRAPHY

Kathleen Wilbur is Michigan State University’s senior vice president for government relations. Wilbur served at Central Michigan University, is the only woman to direct three State of Michigan departments, and served on the MSU Board of Trustees.

Before her MSU appointment, Wilbur, who joined Central Michigan University in 2002, was vice president for government and external relations. She also served as interim president for one year and then was vice president for development and external relations.

Prior to that she was director of the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services, director of the Michigan Department of Commerce, deputy director of the Michigan Department of Commerce, and director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Wilbur was chief of staff to State Senator William Sederburg, who chaired the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, among other assignments.

She was elected to the MSU Board of Trustees in 1984 and served unto 1991. Her peer reviewed journal publications and conference presentations focus on the role of institutional trustees and governing boards in higher education.

A 2007 inductee into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame, Wilbur earned a doctorate in higher education administration, a master’s degree in higher education administration, and bachelor’s degree in journalism from MSU.