Dean Fisher, President of the College of Southern Idaho, Appointed to WICHE Commission

Higher education leader brings four decades of experience to regional compact 

BOULDER, COLORADO — Dean Fisher, president of the College of Southern Idaho, Idaho’s first and only federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, has been selected to serve as a commissioner representing the state on the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Based in Boulder, Colorado, WICHE is a regional interstate compact serving the higher education and workforce needs of 15 Western states and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States. 

WICHE’s 48 commissioners are appointed by the state’s governors or, in the case of the freely associated states, the leader of those three sovereign nations. The Commission guides WICHE’s direction and assures that the Western Regional Educational Compact is carried out for the benefit of the West since its establishment in 1953.  

“President Fisher is a seasoned leader with a remarkable ability to connect with individuals from different backgrounds and perspectives,” said WICHE President Demarée Michelau. “His deep expertise in strategic enrollment management and unwavering commitment to student success bring invaluable insight to WICHE’s efforts to strengthen the region by closing the gap between educational outcomes and workforce demands.”   

A former congressional aide and chief of staff, Fisher is an educational administrator with almost 40 years of experience in postsecondary education. He retired from the Oklahoma System of Higher Education as a senior vice president at Rose State College in Oklahoma City. He subsequently served as a provost within the State University of New York (SUNY) system before accepting his role at College of Southern Idaho. Fisher’s research interests focus on student development theory, strategic enrollment management, public policy, and Tribal history with a particular emphasis on the Choctaw Nation.  

“We need education in order for individuals to advance and grow to their full potential, and that all starts with access,” Fisher said. “I am honored by Gov. Brad Little’s appointment to serve my state, and I look forward to working with the Commission to ensure all students in the West, no matter their background, have that chance.”