East Lansing
Kathleen M. Wilbur, Ph.D. joined Michigan State University’s Government Relations department in March 2018.
Wilbur formerly served as Central Michigan University Vice President and Interim President, she is also the only woman to direct three State of Michigan departments and served on the MSU Board of Trustees.
Before her MSU appointment, Wilbur was vice president for government and external relations at CMU. She also had served as interim president and vice president for development and external relations, joining CMU in 2002.
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 earlier 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 through 1990. Her peer reviewed journal publications and conference presentations focus on the role of institution trustees 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.
David Bertram was named Assistant Vice President for State Relations at Michigan State University in 2011, and was promoted to Associate Vice President in 2015. Prior to joining MSU, Bertram spent nearly 15 years with the Michigan Township Association, serving as the legislative team leader from 1997-2011. Bertram served in the Executive Office in Michigan in a number of positions, including as the governor’s lobbyist in the Michigan Senate for three years. He also served on Senate Majority Leader’s staff, gubernatorial campaign staff, and on an Executive Office transition team. As the Associate Vice President for State Relations, David, is the day-to-day point person representing MSU before the Michigan Legislature, Governor’s Office and state departments. His role also involves working in collaborative efforts on higher education and state issues with other state universities and other stakeholders. At MSU, he also serves as one a few point people on mobility strategy (autonomous and connected vehicles), Polyfluoroakyl (PFAS/PFOS) efforts and other state environmental and natural resources policy issues. Bertram has a Bachelor of Science in political science from Lake Superior State University.
Assistant Vice President for Community Relations – East Lansing/Lansing
lillieja@msu.edu
Marina Scott joined MSU in December 2011. Scott provides scheduling and administrative support for the assistant vice president for community relations and director for statewide advocacy. Before coming to MSU, she was an administrative assistant at Michigan Millers Insurance Company and was an executive assistant at Lansing Economic Area Partnership.