The La Follette School is fortunate to have Curt Culver on its Board of Visitors (BOV), a position he has embraced since 2015, generously offering his time and advice in support of the school.
In 2016, Culver and his wife, Sue, launched the Curt & Sue Culver Graduate Fellowship Fund in Public Service to provide financial assistance to some of the La Follette School’s top policy students. Having put himself through college with the help of student financial aid, Culver has made a point of giving back to the university so that others can have the same opportunities that he has had.
Culver served for 15 years as chief executive officer of MGIC Investment Corporation and, in retirement, continues to serve on the board as non-executive chairman. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in real estate and urban land economics from UW–Madison and has long been closely involved with the university, having served as a lecturer for more than 20 years in the School of Business.
However, it wasn’t until 2013 that Culver learned about the La Follette School and became interested in supporting its work. “What really appealed to Sue and me was the school’s nonpartisan and research-based approach to solving problems,” says Culver. “College should be about learning and not partisanship. Then students can determine their own paths in life.”
In support of this goal, Culver recently judged submissions for the Kohl Research Competition, helping to identify faculty members who will receive funding to support nonpartisan research projects that inform critical public policy and governance debates.
The La Follette School BOV provides important guidance by identifying resources that can raise the stature and standing of the school, helping with fundraising, providing career advice to students, and acting as goodwill ambassadors. Many thanks to Culver for sharing his leadership expertise with the board and the school!