Dr. Van Davis, known for his extensive expertise in digital learning and artificial intelligence, is set to be inducted into the Texas Digital Learning Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place on March 31 in Austin, Texas. Davis is currently the executive director of the WCET – WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies and the vice president for digital learning at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).
The Hall of Fame honor acknowledges individuals with notable contributions and lasting influence in digital and distance learning. Dr. Davis’s career spans over 25 years in higher education, encompassing roles as a faculty member, academic administrator, state policymaker, and edtech leader. His work has focused on the integration of technology with education and the development of policies around distance learning.
“Dr. Van Davis has been a transformative leader in the field of digital learning, with a profound impact on higher education in Texas, the West, and beyond,” said WICHE President Demarée Michelau. “Student success has been at the forefront of his career, and he has done so by creating opportunities for all learners at the intersection of education and technology.”
In 2021, Davis joined WCET, a leading national organization in digital learning practice and policy, as its chief strategy officer. Earlier this year, he advanced to his current positions within WCET and WICHE, both of which serve the Western region of the United States in higher education matters.
Before his current roles, Davis accumulated experience in various prestigious positions, including principal at Foghlam Consulting, associate vice president at Blackboard Inc., director of innovation at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and as a faculty member and academic administrator.
Davis pursued his academic path with a bachelor’s degree in history from Southwestern University, and later obtained a master’s and a doctorate in 20th-century U.S. history from Vanderbilt University, emphasizing civil rights studies.
“Van has this incredible gift for seeing how technology can truly help people learn, and he’s spent his career turning those brilliant insights into real solutions that make education better for everyone,” said Dr. Darcy Hardy of The Hardy Strategic Consulting Group. Hardy, a 2006 Hall of Fame inductee and a former colleague, added: “I couldn’t be prouder to see him honored by the Texas Digital Learning Hall of Fame. It’s a perfect recognition of how his sharp mind and big heart have touched so many lives in education.”
