Gerald Whitburn

Gerald Whitburn, an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, has modeled a remarkable life and career in scholarship, service, and executive leadership that spans public and private sectors, epitomizing the rich and unique experiences this institution strives to make attainable for every Titan.

Mr. Whitburn is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Church Mutual Insurance Company. He also served as secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and held three senior positions in Wisconsin Government: Deputy Secretary of Administration (1987-1989), Secretary of the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations (1989-1991), and Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services (1991-1995).

Mr. Whitburn was also appointed by Gov. Scott Walker and served as a UW System Regent for nine years, earning the Board of Regents’ Emeritus standing. In private sector governance roles, he served as past chairman of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) and was a member of the board of Trustees of the American Institute for Charter Property Casualty Underwriters (AICPCU). He spent three years on staff of the Secretary of the Navy at the Pentagon, and six years working for U.S. Senator Bob Kasten.

Mr. Whitburn received a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from UWO. He earned his master’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He studied management at the Kennedy School, the Business School at Harvard, and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.