Kathy Wilbur, a leader at MSU and in state government, dies at age 70
LANSING — Kathy Wilbur, the lobbyist for Michigan State University and a veteran of higher education and state government who served as a mentor to many, died Sunday.
Wilbur, 70, of Okemos, announced in October she was retiring in January as senior vice president for government relations at MSU, a post she had held since 2018.
Before that, Wilbur worked for 16 years at Central Michigan University, where she served as interim president, vice president of advancement and external relations and vice president for government relations. She also helped launch the university’s medical school.
Wilbur's son Tom said his mother died at home following a recurrence of cancer.
He said his mom loved reading library books, seeing Broadway shows, taking annual family vacations Up North, and spending time with friends who spanned generations and the globe.
"She was always quick with a joke or astute political observation and renowned for her thank you notes and gift-giving," Tom Wilbur said in an email. "She prioritized 'shopping local' and managed to find an independent bookstore wherever she went."
Many Lansing-area women made social media postings Sunday about Wilbur's mentorship.
"I so appreciated her guidance over my career," Lisa Hansknecht, executive director of government relations and community services for Oakland Schools, said in a Monday email to the Free Press.
"Her career was incredibly impressive, especially as a woman in the Lansing scene. She was a mentor to me (and) someone I looked up to. Kathy was an incredibly smart and dedicated public servant. She was also witty and had a good bit of sarcasm to boot."
Before moving to higher education, Wilbur worked in the administration of former Republican Gov. John Engler, where she served as director of three departments — licensing and regulation, commerce, and consumer and industry services.
Born in Detroit, Wilbur began her career in Lansing in the Legislature, where she held both communications and policy positions and served as chief of staff to former Sen. Bill Sederburg.
"In a town like Lansing full of prancing ponies, Kathy Wilbur was a Clydesdale," said Michigan pollster Richard Czuba, founder of the Glengariff Group, in a Sunday Facebook posting.
"She was the person both sides could trust to do the heavy lifting. Everyone has a Wilbur story, because she mattered. Everyone has a Wilbur story, because she taught everyone something and with patience. A heroic Michigander. Michigan is a cloudier place today."
Wilbur held three degrees from MSU and served one term on the MSU Board of Trustees.
“When appointed to my current position at MSU, I was honored to serve my alma mater and consider it the capstone of my career in public service,” Wilbur said in announcing her retirement.
“Educating and empowering our future generations fosters a relentless pursuit of knowledge. When you have the opportunity to work with students, you witness the transformational power a college education has and that is what motivated my long commitment to higher education."
Wilbur was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2007.
She was chair of the board of Michigan Future, Inc., a nonprofit think tank devoted to helping Michigan succeed in a knowledge-driven economy.
"Her decades of being an advocate for higher education and making Michigan a better place for all have been felt far and wide," said Lou Glazer, the organization's president and co-founder.
Wilbur is survived by her husband and four sons: Thomas, William, Samuel, and Raymond. She also is survived by a granddaughter, Mary.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @paulegan4.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kathy Wilbur, a leader at MSU and in state government, dies at age 70
