WICHE President Demarée Michelau Elected as NWCCU Commissioner

BOULDER, Colorado – The Board of Commissioners of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) has elected Demarée Michelau, who serves as the president of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), as a new commissioner during its July meeting.  

NWCCU accredits institutions of higher education by applying data- and evidence-informed standards and processes to support continuous improvements and promote achievement and success for all students. Michelau will serve three years as a NWCCU commissioner and joins the following as new NWCCU commissioners: Dr. Paige Fenton Hughes, Lead Evaluator, Cognia; Elizabeth S. Gunn, Dean, School of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Business, Nevada State University; Ned Hillyard, Chief Clinical Operations/Compliance Officer, Idaho Falls Community Hospital; Courtney Hills McBeth, Chief Academic Officer and Provost, Western Governors University; Cheryl Siemers, Chancellor, University of Alaska Anchorage; and Kristi Wellington-Baker, Higher Education Strategy Leader, Learner Innovation, Amazon Web Services.  

“Students and their families deserve the security of knowing the institutions they consider for their postsecondary education are deeply committed to student success and continuous improvement,” Michelau said. “I consider it a privilege to support NWCCU’s accreditation mission which aligns closely with my work at WICHE to advance access, excellence, and opportunity across the West.” 

Michelau brings deep expertise in higher education policy, governance, strategic planning, postsecondary attainment, transfer, affordability, and workforce issues to advance education access and excellence across the West. She previously held positions with the National Conference of State Legislatures and former Colorado congressman David Skaggs. Prior to becoming WICHE’s president in 2018, she led WICHE’s Policy Analysis and Research unit, where she contributed to the organization’s policy and research agenda and led externally funded initiatives. She has a bachelor’s degree in public law from Northern Illinois University and master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of Colorado Boulder.

About NWCCU

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is authorized by the United States Department of Education as an institutional accreditor of public and private higher education institutions throughout the United States. Founded in 1917, NWCCU currently accredits 159 diverse institutions, including public universities, private colleges, tribal colleges, and specialized institutions. The Commission is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). For more information, visit www.nwccu.org.