Dr. Van Davis has been appointed as the new executive director of WCET – WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies and vice president, digital learning, at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). His tenure will begin on January 1, 2025, following Russ Poulin’s retirement after three decades of service.
WICHE President Demarée Michelau expressed confidence in Davis’s leadership: “Our work in driving innovations in both policy and practice is in excellent hands with Dr. Van Davis at the helm.” She highlighted his extensive experience in higher education roles over more than 25 years.
WCET is a prominent organization focused on digital learning policy and advocacy within higher education across the United States and Canada. Founded by WICHE in 1988, it aims to integrate educational technology into institutions in the Western region.
In his new position, Davis will manage WCET’s strategic operations, including overseeing its membership and initiatives like the State Authorization Network (SAN) and Every Learner Everywhere. He joined WCET and WICHE in 2021 as chief strategy officer, where he contributed to strategy planning and policy analysis.
Davis shared his enthusiasm for his new role: “Throughout my career, I have long been drawn to efforts that support increasing access and success for students… I am honored to have been entrusted with leading such a strong and capable team at WCET.”
Before joining WCET and WICHE, Davis held positions such as principal at Foghlam Consulting, associate vice president at Blackboard Inc., director of innovation at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and academic roles at various universities. He holds degrees from Southwestern University and Vanderbilt University.
