• Cheryl Graves

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      Cheryl Graves is an administrative assistant in the Policy Analysis and Research unit at WICHE. She works closely with the two unit directors as well as provides administrative support for three unit project coordinators. Cheryl has over fifteen years experience in administrative support as well as ten years experience in Information Technology support, networks, and project management. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Colorado Christian University.

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    Administrative Assistant II
    Policy Analysis and Research
    303.541.0269
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  • Patrick Lane

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      Patrick Lane joined the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) in 2008 as a project coordinator. He coordinates the Adult College Completion Network and worked extensively on WICHE’s Non-traditional No More: Policy Solutions for Adult Learners project. Both projects focus on indentifying policy and practice solutions to help adults with prior college credit return to postsecondary education to complete their degrees. He also coordinates WICHE’s College Access Challenge Grant Network. He came to WICHE having spent several years working in education policy in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. He received a master’s degree from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University in 2007 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in public administration at the University of Colorado Denver. He can be reached at 303.541.0266 or plane@wiche.edu. 

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    Project Coordinator
    Policy Analysis and Research
    303-541-0266
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  • Demarée Michelau

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      Demarée K. Michelau is the director of policy analysis at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. In this role, she co-manages WICHE’s Policy Analysis and Research unit and directs externally-funded projects related to adult learners, articulation and transfer, and college access and success. The author of numerous reports and policy briefs, she also has experience in a variety of higher education policy issues, including the Common Core State Standards, accelerated learning options, college affordability, and K-16 reform. Previously, she worked for the National Conference of State Legislatures as a policy specialist. Michelau received her bachelor's degree in public law from Northern Illinois University and her master's degree and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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    Director of Policy Analysis
    Policy Analysis and Research
    303.541.0223
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  • Brian T. Prescott

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      Brian T. Prescott is the director of policy research at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). In this role, he co-manages WICHE’s Policy Analysis and Research unit, with primary responsibility for obtaining and analyzing education and workforce data with public policy relevance. He is author of the two most recent editions of Knocking at the College Door, WICHE’s widely-used projections of high school graduates by state and race/ethnicity. Additionally, he manages grant- and contract-funded projects and authors occasional policy briefs, chapters, and research reports. Prescott has experience working directly with states on issues of access, success, affordability, accountability, workforce development, and data systems development. Currently, he is managing WICHE’s Gates Foundation-funded project to develop a multistate longitudinal data exchange. He also serves on the board of directors of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Prescott earned a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Virginia. He also holds degrees from the University of Iowa and the College of William and Mary.

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    Director of Policy Research
    Policy Analysis and Research
    303.541.0255
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