Facing Complexity, Finding Solutions

Van Davis

Executive Director, WCET – the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies and Vice President, Digital Learning

303.541.0306vdavis@wiche.edu

Van Davis – Van joined WCET in 2021 as chief strategy officer, and in 2025, he became WCET’s executive director and WICHE’s vice president for digital learning. Davis oversees all strategic and operational responsibilities of WCET’s membership, the State Authorization Network (SAN) that assists institutions with interstate compliance, and Every Learner Everywhere, which advocates for successful academic outcomes for all postsecondary education students through advances in digital learning. 

Van has over 25 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member, academic administrator, state policy maker, and edtech leader. He holds a Master’s and PhD in 20th Century US history with an emphasis in civil rights from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor’s in history from Southwestern University. Prior to joining WCET and WICHE, Davis served as principal at Foghlam Consulting, associate vice president at Blackboard Inc., director of innovation at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and a faculty member and academic administrator at several public and private universities with historically underrepresented student populations.  

Van’s expertise includes artificial intelligence policy, federal and state distance education policy, degree completion initiatives, competency-based education, the cost and price of distance education, and the future of higher education and digital learning.  

Please reach out if with media inquiries or if you are interested in speaking with Van. 

Van lives outside of Austin, Texas, and will be relocating to WICHE headquarters in Boulder, CO, later this summer with his beloved wife, Lisa, and two cats. When not working, Van collects Lego models and dreams of the day he can complete his western US camping trip. 

TJ Bliss

Associate Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Utah System of Higher Education

TJ Bliss, Ph.D., is the associate commissioner for academic affairs and chief academic officer for the Utah System of Higher Education. He is also a clinical assistant professor in education leadership at the University of Idaho. Previously, he served as the chief academic officer for the Idaho State Board of Education and has held several other executive leadership positions in governmental, philanthropic, and non-profit sectors. Bliss received a Ph.D. in education research and B.S. in microbiology from Brigham Young University and an M.S. in biology from the University of Nebraska.

Chris Guymon

Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Utah Tech University

Christopher Guymon, Ed.D., serves interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Utah Tech University. He has been privileged to serve at two distinctive universities—The University of Chicago and Utah Tech University—and in these universities, he has served as an interim provost, associate provost, assistant provost, dean, senior associate dean, and director of graduate studies. During his tenure, he has led the development and administration of several degree programs, significantly increased enrollment, built strategic relationships in Europe, East Asia, and South Asia, and led a $3 million fundraising campaign to support students and faculty.

Steven Hood

Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Utah System of Higher Education (USHE)

Steven Hood, Ph.D., is assistant commissioner for academic affairs in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  His responsibilities include oversight of new academic program proposals, general education, credit for prior learning, and student transfer within the eight public colleges and universities in USHE.  He served as the academic vice president and provost at Snow College in Utah and as the director of the first-year core curriculum program at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania.  He serves on the Utah Launch Years Math Task Force in conjunction with the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas.

Melissa Emery Thompson

Assistant Vice President for Research, University of New Mexico

Melissa Emery Thompson, Ph.D., is a professor of anthropology and has served as assistant vice president for research at the University of New Mexico since 2021. She focuses her efforts on reducing barriers to research participation and developing programming that celebrates and enhances research success and professionalization of students, postdocs, and faculty. As a faculty researcher, she has published over 160 original research articles and received over $10 million in grant funding. Emery Thompson received her B.S. in anthropology and human biology from Emory University and an A.M. and Ph.D. in anthropology from Harvard University.

Ellen Fisher

Vice President for Research, University of New Mexico

Ellen Fisher, Ph.D., serves as the vice president for research at the University of New Mexico.  She provides leadership for the research enterprise, oversees research compliance, research development, and faculty and student success initiatives, collaborating broadly to enhance, enable and advance the research and scholarship of students, faculty and staff.  Previously, she served as assistant vice president for strategic initiatives at Colorado State University and has been a professor in chemistry since 1993. Fisher received her B.S. in chemistry and math (double major) from Texas Lutheran College (now University) and Ph.D. in physical-analytical chemistry from the University of Utah.

Pamela Cheek

Vice Provost for Student Success, University of New Mexico

Pamela Cheek is vice provost for student success and professor of French at the University of New Mexico (UNM). She leads programs to improve educational opportunity and access and to enable faculty and students to thrive in the classroom. She is recognized outside of UNM for her work on the Student Experience Project (Urban Serving Universities/APLU). She earned her B.A. from Harvard University and her Ph.D. from Stanford University as a Mellon Fellow in the Humanities. Her second book received the Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies. She enjoys biking, hiking, and paddling in the beautiful Southwest.

Sushilla Knottenbelt

Associate Dean for Student Success, University of New Mexico

Sushilla Knottenbelt, Ph.D., is a principal lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, faculty lead for the UNM Student Experience Project and associate dean for student success in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her work focuses on improving retention and expanding resources available to faculty and students to ensure that every student is supported to reach their full potential. Previously, she served as undergraduate director of the combined BA/MD degree program, a pipeline program to address the physician shortage in New Mexico. She received her Ph.D. and Master’s in chemistry from the University of York, United Kingdom.

Erin Shortlidge

Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, University of New Mexico

Erin Shortlidge, Ph.D. is the executive director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and professor of biology at the University of New Mexico. She is a STEM education researcher who focuses on studying and implementing best practices in teaching and learning. Shortlidge comes to the University of New Mexico from Portland State University where she was an associate professor of biology and biology education and an interim vice provost for student success.  Shortlidge earned a B.F.A. in dance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, an A.S. in biology from Harold Washington College in Chicago, and her Ph.D. in biology at Portland State University in Oregon.

Gwen Sharp

Interim Vice Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Nevada State University

Gwen Sharp, Ph.D., is interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Nevada State University, providing leadership for the Division of Academic Affairs and serving as the accreditation liaison officer. She previously served as vice provost of faculty affairs and research, an associate dean, and a department chair at NSU. Sharp is also a professor of sociology; she received her B.A. in sociology from the University of Oklahoma and her M.S. in rural sociology and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is interested in evidence-based, ethical leadership and transforming career pathways for the wide array of students looking to higher education as a ladder to social mobility.

Angela McLean

Director, American Indian and Minority Achievement and K-12 Partnerships, Montana University System

Angela McLean, Ed.D. is the director of American Indian and minority achievement and K-12 partnerships at the Montana University System Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.  McLean previously served as Montana’s 31st lieutenant governor and was a classroom teacher for 20 years.  McLean is also a former vice chair of the Montana Board of Public Education and a former chair of the Montana University System Board of Regents.   McLean received a B.S. in secondary education from Western Montana College, her M.A. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Montana and her Ed.D. in educational leadership from Montana State University.

Minzi Thomas

Senior Education Designer, Education Design Lab

Minzi A. Thomas, Ed.D. is a senior education designer at Education Design Lab. She is currently leading the design of micro-pathways for the Montana University System in the Year-to-Career initiative, which includes tribal colleges. Thomas previously served as director of professional development and enrollment management at Meharry Medical College and held roles at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and the Tennessee Department of Labor. Thomas received a B.S. in journalism and electronic media from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a M.A. in communication studies from the University of Louisiana, Monroe; and a Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Tennessee State University.

Nicole Dopson

assistant vice president for academic resource management, University of New Mexico

Nicole Dopson is assistant vice president for academic resource management in academic affairs at the University of New Mexico (UNM), overseeing finance, academic facilities, capital planning, and the Fiscal Shared Service Center. She leads fiscal and planning activities for schools, colleges and divisions reporting to the provost, serving as academic affairs’ voice on budget and planning matters across UNM. Dopson previously worked in corporate accounting and has held various fiscal and management roles during her 20-year UNM tenure, including 15 years in academic affairs. Dopson holds a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in accounting from UNM.

Charla Orozco

Director of Institutional Analytics, University of New Mexico

Charla Orozco serves as director of institutional analytics at the University of New Mexico, where she leads strategic data initiatives to support student success and institutional effectiveness. With more than a decade of experience in research and analytics, she specializes in data visualization, equity-focused analysis, and advancing evidence-informed decision making in higher education. She holds two master’s degrees: a M.A. in Latin American studies and a M.S. in cybersecurity and business analytics. Her work centers on leveraging data to illuminate student experiences and strengthen institutional policy and practice.

Debora Halbert

Associate Vice President for Academic Strategy, University of Hawai‘i System

Debora J. Halbert, Ph.D., J.D., is the vice president for academic strategy for the University of Hawaiʻi System (UH System) and professor of political science at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where she currently serves as the senior executive responsible for academic planning, policy development, and student success across the state’s ten public higher education institutions. In this role, Halbert is responsible for oversight of academic affairs, student affairs, institutional research, and statewide initiatives. Previously, Halbert served as associate vice president for academic programs and policy at the UH System and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at UH Mānoa. She holds a Ph.D. in political science and a J.D. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She has published extensively on intellectual property, technology policy, and global political economy.