Daniel Whalen

Areas of Expertise

Telecommunications

Biography

Dan Whalen has had a remarkable career in the telecommunications industry, from working at AT&T and Cellular One to co-founding Whalen & Company, an international cellular telephone firm. He currently is executive chairman of Vello, Inc., a start-up teleconferencing company, and recently stepped down as interim president of his alma mater, Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

Whalen and wife, Katharine, are generous philanthropists. They have established three fellowships at the Humphrey School to honor their teachers and mentors: the John Brandl Public Leadership Fellowship, James Lyday Fellowship for Leadership in Public Service, and James Jernberg Public Service Fellowship. Whalen is a noted activist working for the educational success and well-being of Bosnian orphans. Whalen's public sector career included stints as manager of an election campaign; analyst with U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; manager with the Institute of Medicine; management consultant; director of health planning for New York state; and health policy specialist for the Governor of West Virginia.

Whalen holds an MBA and a master of arts degree in food research from Stanford University. He also a graduate of St. John’s and completed coursework at the Humphrey School.

Resume (PDF)

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