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BOULDER, Colo. – Dr. Melody Rose, chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), has been appointed by Gov. Steve Sisolak to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).
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; together they guide WICHE’s strategic direction and assure that the Western Regional Compact is carried out for the benefit of the West.
Dr. Rose is replacing Dr. Thom Reilly, professor at Arizona State University and former chancellor of NSHE. In this role, Rose will be one of three Nevada state representatives governing WICHE’s portfolio of higher education programs, research, and policy work.
“As the first in my family to earn a college degree, I’ve long been passionate about improving educational access for all,” Rose said. “I have defined my career through a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and I have focused on identifying innovative, data-driven, student-orientated solutions. I am thrilled to join WICHE and contribute to helping future generations of college students succeed.”
WICHE President Demarée Michelau said Rose’s extensive experience and leadership will be a great asset to the commission.
“In these uncertain times, Dr. Rose brings a strategic eye, coupled with resilience and flexibility, that will help colleges and universities in the West advance their mission forward in the areas of excellence, innovation, and inclusion,” Michelau said.
Rose has a distinguished 25-year career in higher education as both as a faculty member and an administrator focused on improving student access and success.
She has served as the Chancellor of the Oregon University System, Portland State University’s Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Instruction and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Chair of Portland State University’s Division of Political Science, President of Marylhurst University, and a consultant for higher education and nonprofit institutions. In June 2020, the Nevada Board of Regents unanimously approved the selection of Rose as the Chancellor of NSHE.
NSHE Board of Regents Chair Mark Doubrava said the appointment was important to help improve higher education access and success for students in Nevada.
“I’m proud of the relationship NSHE and Nevada has with our WICHE partners. We have benefited through regional collaboration, resource-sharing, sound public policy, and innovation,” Doubrava said.
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Since 1953, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has been strengthening higher education, workforce development, and behavioral health throughout the region. As an interstate compact, WICHE partners with states, territories, and postsecondary institutions to share knowledge, create resources, and develop innovative solutions that address some of our society’s most pressing needs. From promoting high-quality, affordable postsecondary education to helping states get the most from their technology investments and addressing behavioral health challenges, WICHE improves lives across the West through innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy.
WICHE members include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States (specifically the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam).
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