UW-Whitewater Foundation board chair Sandy Dunst
May 14, 2025
Written by Chris Lindeke | Photos by Craig Schreiner, submitted
Sandy Dunst, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduate and chair of the university’s foundation board, has been selected to the 2025 BizTimes Media Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders list.
A 1979 graduate with a BBA in accounting, Dunst has served the UW-Whitewater Foundation for the last 10 years, including the last five on the Foundation Board Executive Committee.
Dunst has exemplified strategic leadership and financial stewardship throughout her career and especially over the last four years on the board, including a two-year term as vice chair and a two-year term as chair, which concludes this June.
“Sandy’s leadership has been transformative, guiding the foundation to a historical $50 million minimum fundraising campaign — its most ambitious to date,” said Katie Kuznacic, vice chancellor for university relations and president of the UW-Whitewater Foundation. “Her strategic vision, financial expertise, and collaborative approach have inspired fellow board members, donors, and university leaders to engage in new and innovative ways.”
Members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Foundation Board, including chair Sandy Dunst, front row, fifth from left, in the University Center on Nov. 1, 2024. (UW-Whitewater Photos/Craig Schreiner)
A highly respective executive, Dunst worked in human resources, business strategy, and nonprofit governance during her professional career. She completed a 25-year run at Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation in 2020 and has continued her support of nonprofit organizations making an impact in the Milwaukee area.
For the past 15 years, Dunst has been on the board of SecureFutures, which works with high schools and community-based organizations in the Milwaukee and Greater Chicago areas to empower teenagers with money management knowledge, tools, and mentoring to achieve financial capability, reach their goals, and strengthen their communities. She is currently the vice chair of the board and will move into the chair role this summer.
Dunst has also mentored and advocated for professionals in finance, leadership, and nonprofit management, regularly appearing in classrooms at UW-Whitewater to work with current students. In April, she spoke to business students in the university’s Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) chapter and Women in Business Institute (WIBI) as part of a panel, “The Power of Peer Networks.”
“Sandy’s remarkable leadership, commitment to philanthropy, and ability to drive organizational success make her a more-than-deserving recipient of this honor,” Kuznacic said. “Her impact at UW-Whitewater and beyond will be felt for generations to come.”
The BizTimes’ Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders list highlights volunteers working to make Southern Wisconsin a better, healthier, safer and more equitable place to live. View the complete list of honorees.
