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BOULDER, COLORADO — The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has selected Ashley Clark as its new Vice President, Finance and Administration, following an extensive national search conducted by Anthem Executive. Clark brings more than a decade of experience leading public finance, operations, and strategic planning at government and nonprofit agencies in Colorado and California.
Most recently, Clark served as director of finance and administration for the Colorado Department of Corrections, where she served as a member of the executive team and oversaw a $1.1 billion budget. There, Clark led key divisions including business operations, payroll, facilities, budget, procurement, and the controller’s office, with more than 300 full-time staff and increasing responsibilities. Since 2021, she implemented process improvements, secured state and federal funding to expand programmatic impact, and helped modernize operations at the department through data-driven decision-making and cross-agency collaboration.
Craig Milburn, WICHE’s chief financial officer, retired June 30, and consultant Kris Flewelling has been serving in an interim role during this transition. Clark’s first day will be August 21.
“Out of a large pool of highly qualified candidates, Ashley Clark demonstrated an extensive skillset in public finance, compliance, and operational leadership with a consistent focus on strategic alignment and service delivery,” said WICHE President Demarée Michelau. “Her commitment to operational excellence and mission-driven impact was evident, and I warmly welcome her to the WICHE senior leadership team. On behalf of our staff and partners across the West, we wish Craig Millburn the best in his retirement after 25 years of dedicated service at WICHE.”
Reporting to the WICHE President, Clark will be responsible for daily operations and all aspects of the WICHE accounting data processing system, payroll, cash receipts, accounts payable, accounts receivable, facilities management, and grant expenditure reports and invoicing.
The Vice President, Finance and Administration oversees the financial health and sustainability of WICHE, ensuring effective management of its nearly $19.5 million annual operating budget. This includes strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations and reporting requirements. Additionally, the role manages the distribution of over $14.8 million in Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) fees, ensuring the timely and accurate transfer of funds from participating states and territories to institutions supporting students in high-demand health fields.
“I am delighted to join WICHE and help support its important mission throughout the West,” Clark said. “I look forward to contributing to the innovative work WICHE advances around student access and success, workforce development, and rigorous postsecondary education policy research. I am ready to hit the ground running.”
Previously, Clark held leadership roles in the Colorado Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting. Earlier in her career, she served in fiscal and policy roles with the City and County of San Francisco and served as a Fulbright Public Policy Fellow in Timor-Leste. Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Middlebury College in Vermont and two master’s degrees in public policy and international studies from the University of California, Berkeley.
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