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Camille Preus, of Oregon, named chair; Susan Anderson, of Alaska, named vice chair; Ray Holmberg, of North Dakota, to serve as immediate past chair
Camille Preus, executive director of the Oregon Community College Association (OCCA), has been elected as the 2020 chair of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) at WICHE’s biannual commission meeting, held in Denver on Nov. 7-8, 2019. Preus most recently served as the WICHE Commission vice chair. She replaces the outgoing chair, North Dakota State Senator Ray Holmberg, who will serve as immediate past chair. Susan Anderson, president and CEO of The CIRI Foundation and a WICHE commissioner representing the state of Alaska, was elected vice chair. The chair, vice chair, and immediate past chair serve as officers of the WICHE Commission.
“Commissioner Preus brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the chairmanship. While she skillfully represents Oregon on the WICHE Commission, she knows the West and will be an outstanding leader for the organization,” said WICHE President Demarée Michelau. “I look forward to working closely with both Commissioner Preus and Commissioner Anderson to promote postsecondary access, affordability, and opportunity in the region.”
Preus has served on the WICHE Commission since 2002. As head of OCCA she advocates regulatory issues on both the state and federal levels for all 17 community colleges in Oregon. Preus also provides vision and leadership for several student success efforts and fosters partnerships to further community college interests. Preus previously served as president of Blue Mountain Community College, where she successfully led the college through its $23 million bond campaign, and director of the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, a position she held for 14 years. Her term as WICHE Commission chair runs until November 2020.
Anderson has served on the WICHE Commission since 2010. She has been a part of The CIRI Foundation since October 1999 and began leading the organization in April 2000. The foundation’s mission is to promote individual self-development and economic self-sufficiency through education and to maintain pride in culture and heritage among Alaska Natives and their descendants in the Cook Inlet region. She also serves on the board of Alaska Children’s Trust. Before joining The CIRI Foundation, Anderson was manager of the continuing education programs for The International Society for Optical Engineering.