Whitburn Center
Fellows

About the Fellows

The Whitburn Fellowship Program is designed to support public service leaders advancing the mission of the Whitburn Center, which is to conduct nonpartisan, practical, applied research focused on evaluating and improving governance, professional management, and public policy in Wisconsin and beyond.

Fellows collaborate with the Whitburn Center to lead research that advances good government in Wisconsin. In return, they receive professional development support from the Whitburn Center.

2023-2024 Fellows

Lynnsey Erickson

Lynnsey is driven by a deep commitment to justice, lifting voices of those who have been silenced or ignored, and building a community where everyone can thrive. Lynnsey was elected to the Oshkosh Common Council in April 2020 and is currently Deputy Mayor. She currently serves on the city’s Transportation Committee and has previously served on the city’s Rental Housing Advisory Board, Transit Advisory Board, Plan Commission, and the Oshkosh Housing Authority Board. Lynnsey also works as a Community Health Strategist at the Winnebago County Health Department since 2016. In her role, she focuses on housing policy and systems change to improve access and affordability. Lynnsey earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison (’14) and her Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (’22). In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, participating in the Slow Roll community bike rides in Oshkosh, and rewatching Parks and Recreation and Ted Lasso for the umpteenth time.

Tony Mazzucco

Tony Mazzucco serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Town of Norwood, Massachusetts, a small city outside of Boston with over 1,100 employees and an operating budget of $215 million where he oversees all municipal operations including police, fire, public works, water/sewer, airport, municipal electric and broadband companies, facilities, and budget and financial management. Tony also serves as the CEO of the Metro/southwest workforce region, overseeing workforce development in a 43 community region with more than a million residents. In addition, Tony has been appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to serve as the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Labor Management Committee, a state-wide body responsible for resolving public safety labor contract disputes. Tony has negotiated economic development incentive deals with Fortune 500 companies and globally recognized brands leading to more than $1 billion in investment in Norwood. Tony has a BA in political science and a Masters in Public Administration from Bridgewater State University and is currently completing his dissertation for a Doctorate in Public Administration at Valdosta State University. Finally, Tony is a co-winner of the 2023 Public Policy Competition at the University of Georgia.

2022-2023 Fellows

Chris Astrella

Chris was a Clerk/Treasurer for almost 17 years and an Administrator/Deputy Administrator for 10 years in Wisconsin; most recently for the Town of Oakland in Jefferson County. He served on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association for six years, was its 37th President, and proclaimed a Clerk-at-Heart at the 2021 Annual Conference. Currently he teaches Public Administration at Rochester University (MI), consults for Town Web Design and HeyGov, two world-wide companies specializing in digitizing municipal government and municipal websites, is a national speaker, and takes minutes on the side just for fun. 😉

Chris has his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Master of Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He, his wife Dr. Julie, and their dog Thumper moved to Las Vegas in September of 2021 to escape the frigid Wisconsin Winters. They both are proud Green Bay Packers Owners, Disney fans, and love to travel. Chris loves to bike, shoot photography, the New York Yankees, and the incredible food Las Vegas has to offer; especially In N Out Burger!

Nick Brewer

Nick BrewerNick is originally from Madison’s northside but has made Oshkosh his home over the last 11 years. He is an Army veteran who deployed to Iraq in 2010-11 and is a 2 time alumni of UW Oshkosh. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Urban Planning and Geography and a Masters in Public Administration. Nick has been able to utilize his degrees over a 7 year career with the state in various positions assisting students and veterans within the community with employment, outreach, recovery, and sustainable living practices.