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The WICHE Commission

The WICHE Commission oversees the development of WICHE programs and assures that the Western Regional Educational Compact is carried out for the benefit of the residents of the West. WICHE’s 48 commissioners are appointed by the governors of the 15 Western states and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States. The commissioners are leaders in higher education and include state higher education executive officers, college and university presidents, legislators, business and community leaders, and other key partners. In accordance with the organization’s bylaws, the WICHE Commission has three primary responsibilities:

  • Fiduciary duty, including oversight of the organization’s finances
  • Provide strategic direction for the organization through approval of WICHE’s annual Workplan
  • Select and evaluate the WICHE president

The commission also appoints members of the WICHE Legislative Advisory Committee which, though not technically a formal commission committee, is composed of WICHE-region legislators as well as several commissioners.

Upcoming WICHE Commission Meetings

2025
May 5–6: Utah
November 13–14: Colorado
2026
May 18–19: Washington
November 5-6: Colorado
2027
May 3–4: New Mexico
November 4–5: Colorado
2028
May 8–9: Alaska
November 9–10: Colorado
2029
May 7–8: Wyoming
November 8–9: Colorado
2030
May 6–7: Idaho
November 7–8: Colorado

View Previous Meeting Agenda Books

WICHE Commissioners

*Executive Committee Member

ALASKA

Tom Begich

Executive Director, Nick Begich Scholarship Intern Fund

* Pearl Brower

President and CEO, Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Corporation

Sean Parnell

Chancellor, University of Alaska Anchorage

ARIZONA

* Kathleen Goeppinger

President/CEO, Midwestern University

Todd Haynie

President, Eastern Arizona College

Chad Sampson

Executive Director, Arizona Board of Regents

CALIFORNIA

Ellen Junn

President Emerita, California State University, Stanislaus

* Robert Shireman

Director of Higher Education Excellence and Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation

COLORADO

Jim Chavez

Executive Director, Community College of Denver Foundation and Governmental Affairs

* Antwan Jefferson

WICHE Immediate Past Chair, Associate Dean and an Associate Teaching Professor, University of Colorado Denver

Angie Paccione

Executive Director, Colorado Department of Higher Education

HAWAI'I

* David Lassner

President, University of Hawai'i

John Morton

Vice President Emeritus, University of Hawai'i Community Colleges

Colleen Sathre

Vice President Emerita, University of Hawai'i

IDAHO

Rick Aman

Retired President, College of Eastern Idaho

* Matt Freeman

Senior Policy Fellow, State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO)

Joshua Whitworth

Executive Director, Office of State Board of Education

MONTANA

Maryrose Beasley

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Homestead Veterinary Clinic

* Clayton Christian

Commissioner of Higher Education, Montana University System

Llew Jones

Representative, Montana State Legislature

NEVADA

Catherine (Cathy) Dinauer

Executive Director, Nevada State Board of Nursing

Dale Erquiaga

Retired Acting Chancellor, Nevada System of Higher Education

* Fred Lokken

Professor, Truckee Meadows Community College

NEW MEXICO

* Barbara Damron

WICHE Chair, Professor and Senior Advisor to the Dean, University of New Mexico

Bill Soules

Senator, New Mexico State Legislature

Patricia Sullivan

Associate Dean, College of Engineering, New Mexico State University

NORTH DAKOTA

Danita Bye

Board Member, North Dakota State Board of Higher Education

* Kyle Davison

Senator, North Dakota Legislature

Mark Hagerott

Chancellor, North Dakota University System

OREGON

* Ben Cannon

Executive Director, Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission

Hilda Rosselli

Educational Policy Consultant

Lisa Skari

President, Mt. Hood Community College

SOUTH DAKOTA

Nathan Lukkes

Executive Director, South Dakota Board of Regents

* Larry Tidemann

Retired, South Dakota Legislature

U.S. PACIFIC TERRITORIES AND FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES

* Frankie Eliptico

Representing CNMI, Vice President, Administration and Advancement, Northern Marianas College

Rodney Jacob

Representing Guam, Attorney, Partner, Calvo Fisher & Jacob LLP

Kalani Kaneko

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senator, Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands

UTAH

Patricia Jones

CEO, Women's Leadership Institute

Geoffrey Landward

Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah System of Higher Education

* Ann Millner

WICHE Vice Chair, Senator, Utah State Legislature

WASHINGTON

John Carmichael

President, Evergreen State College

* Michael Meotti

Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council

Gerry Pollet

Representative, Washington State Legislature

WYOMING

* Fred Baldwin

Senator, Wyoming State Legislature

Joseph Schaffer

President, Laramie County Community College

Mike Smith

Vice President for Government Affairs and Community Engagement, University of Wyoming

Full agendas for the WICHE Commission biannual meetings and related committee materials:

For more information, please contact:

Laura Ewing

Executive Assistant to the President and to the Commission


303.541.0204

lewing@wiche.edu