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Staff Directory
Jason Alves
Director of Veterans Initiatives, Behavioral Health Program
Jason Alves is the Director of Veterans Initiatives at WICHE. Bringing to the Behavioral Health programs over 13 years of service to Veterans in public and community led mental health. He serves as implementation manager for the Together with Veterans rural veteran suicide prevention program, in partnership with the Rocky Mountain MIRECC. Previously, he served as president of Washington State Chapter for the Farmer Veteran Coalition, Programs Manager for the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Alves utilized his G.I. Bill and received his B. S. in Political Science from the University of Oregon and M.P.A. in Public Non-Profit management from The Evergreen State College.
Jenni Atwood
Manager, Grants, Contracts and Finance, Every Learner Everywhere
Genevieve Berry
Project Manager, MHTTC, Behavioral Health Program
Genevieve Berry is the Project Manager for the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MP-MHTTC), a WICHE project that operates in partnership with the University of North Dakota. Genevieve received her B.A. in psychology from Memphis University. Prior to joining the WICHE Behavioral Health Program team, Genevieve worked for the state of Colorado on the Multi-Use Network Project (MNT) and The Next Mile project, where she developed communications strategies and served as the liaison to rural communities, for each of the state funded broadband programs. In this capacity, she traveled the state presenting each of the projects to various rural communities and learning firsthand about the unique obstacles rural communities encounter when trying to implement and use broadband. For the past three years she worked for the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities at the University of Colorado. In her role as the Content and Community Outreach Manager, she was responsible for all external communications, website content and design, and she managed the Annual Coleman conference. For over three years, Genevieve worked to develop accessible content and products for people with cognitive disabilities and the communities who serve them.
Raymonda Burgman Gallegos
Vice President, Programs and Services
303-541-0222rbgallegos@wiche.edu
Raymonda Burgman Gallegos serves as the Vice President, Programs and Services. In this role, alongside a team of dedicated and knowledgeable professionals, she pursues increasing student access to postsecondary education and training, building and enhancing collaborations between institutions and their leadership, and efficient procurement and contracting for college and university staff. The Programs and Services unit impacts students, academic leaders, and operations team members. It has three regional tuition savings programs, which include the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), and the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP). The unit also manages the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders (the Alliance) and the Western Academic Leadership Forum (the Forum). These two membership groups serve the leadership development and networking needs of chief academic officers in the region. The Alliance and Forum spurred the development of the innovative student transfer initiative, Interstate Passport ®, and fostered the creation of the Western Academic Leadership Academy. Programs and Services recently added a program for humanities faculty interested in academic leadership. The unit also partners with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) to provide institutions with operational savings through two programs, MHECare Student Health Solutions and Technology Contracts. Previously, Burgman Gallegos served as director of programs and research for eight years at HERS (Higher Education Resource Services), a nonprofit leadership development organization focused on women and gender-diverse leaders who work in postsecondary settings. She also served as an administrator at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and in academic affairs and the office of the president at New College of Florida, in Sarasota, Florida. Burgman Gallegos was a tenured professor in economics and management at DePauw University. She also taught at two other institutions in Florida, Santa Fe College and the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. She received a bachelor’s degree in economics from New College of Florida and a doctorate in economics from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.
Madison Chamberlain
Fidelity Specialist
303.541.0268mchamberlain@wiche.edu
Madison Chamberlain received a Certificate in Data Analytics and Visualization from University of Denver in 2020, and her B.S. in Cellular Molecular Biology and minor in Psychology from Fort Lewis College in 2015. Prior to joining WICHE, Chamberlain has worked for non-profit and private organizations in Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy, Special Education, and Health Care.
Bella Ciarico
Digital Communications Coordinator
303.541.0249iciarico@wiche.edu
Bella Ciarico serves as the Digital Communications Coordinator at WICHE. She recently attained her Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees in Communication Studies from the University of South Dakota. Before assuming her current position, she imparted knowledge as an instructor for Speech 101 and contributed to university advancement initiatives. Bella harbors a fervent commitment to promoting enhanced accessibility to higher education through her work. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys engaging in diverse interests such as reading fantasy literature, maintaining an active lifestyle through gym sessions and basketball, exploring culinary delights, thrift shopping, and fostering social connections.
Dave Clark
Chief of Digital Services
Dave Clark is WICHE’s chief of digital services. In this role, he contributes to and oversees all operational, tactical, and strategic IT operations and initiatives. His work experiences include research associate at UC San Diego (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), where he supported various geology/geophysics departments with network design and implementation, programming interfaces to geophysical equipment, and system/network administration; senior network engineer and director of IT at Cable Labs (where the cable modem specification was born), and director of infrastructure for two managed services/hosting service providers. Dave earned his bachelor’s in geology (University Honors Program) from the University of Delaware. His hobbies include drumming (since age 7), fossil/mineral collecting, and enjoying the beautiful Colorado outdoors.
Margo Colalancia
Director of Student Access Programs, Programs and Services
303.541.0214mcolalancia@wiche.edu
Margo Colalancia directs WICHE’s student access programs – WUE, WRGP and PSEP– which provide access to a broad range of higher education options for 45,000+ students. Previously she served as associate project director for a trinational consortium of Mexican, Canadian and U.S. universities and colleges. She holds a bachelor’s in business French from the University of Colorado and the Université de Bordeaux III, and a master’s in international policy studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Colalancia spent seven years in Gabon, Central Africa, teaching English as a foreign language with the Peace Corps and on private contract with the Gabonese Ministry of Education.
Emilie Cook
Manager, Digital Marketing and Communications, Every Learner Everywhere
Emilie Cook joined Every Learner Everywhere in April 2021 and is currently the manager, digital marketing and communications. With 15 years of marketing experience in corporate, university, small business, agency, and non-profit marketing, Emilie brings vast knowledge and expertise with a steadfast commitment to equitable education. In addition to her Every Learner Everywhere role, Emilie has experience teaching marketing and has implemented adaptive courseware as an adjunct instructor for the Salisbury University Perdue School of Business. Emilie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Dickinson College, and a Master of Science in Marketing from the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. Outside of work, Emilie enjoys spending time with her husband Jason, son Benjamin, and daughter Adelaide Mae in Bethany Beach, Delaware, where they reside; she and her family savor the beach life and all that it offers.
Cherie Curtin
Senior Administrative Coordinator, Programs and Services
Cherie Curtin is a Senior Administrator Coordinator for the Student Access Programs at WICHE and formerly served as a project coordinator and administrative assistant for the Interstate Passport program. She brings a human-centered approach to her work, evaluates issues from multiple viewpoints, and enjoys outreach activities, talking and working with people to find common interests. She has worked in higher education for over 15 years at the federal and state level. She holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of New Mexico’s School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University with a supplementary major in Law & Society. Outside of work, Cherie enjoys camping in the mountains, reading, watching her son’s hockey and baseball games, and spending time with family and friends.
Laura DaVinci
Director, Every Learner Everywhere Network
970.415.3653ldavinci@wiche.edu
Laura DaVinci joined the Every Learner team in June 2018. As the Associate Director for Every Learner Everywhere, she has the opportunity to work with a strong network of partners committed to improving educational outcomes through technology-enhanced education. Laura has dedicated her career to improving educational outcomes for first-generation, poverty-affected, and racially minoritized students through innovative approaches and grant-funded programs. She has worked in higher education and nonprofits supporting education since 2005 and is a strong advocate for the power of education in students’ lives. Her leadership and supervisory roles have included Associate Director, Project Director, Grants Manager, Academic Services Coordinator, and Computer Science Adjunct Faculty. She excels at new program development, innovative approaches that include a digital aspect, and managing complex projects across multiple organizations or stakeholders. Her grants portfolio included working with the US Department of Education, the US Department of Labor, the National Science Foundation, multiple state departments, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the European Commission on international educational grants across multiple European countries. She earned her MBA from Eastern New Mexico University, and her Bachelor’s degree in International Business in Romania. Laura is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Laura lives outside of Richmond, VA with her husband. They enjoy traveling, camping, hiking, and biking.
Van Davis
Chief Strategy Officer, WCET
Van Davis has served as Chief Strategy Officer for WCET, leading the organization’s strategy and planning work, coordinating WCET’s diversity, equity, and inclusion work, and providing research and policy analysis assistance, including on WCET’s artificial intelligence research and policy development. Previously, Davis served as principal at Foghlam Consulting. Davis has spent over 20 years in higher education in a number of roles including 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 universities. Davis received his bachelor’s degree in history from Southwestern University and both his master’s and doctoral degrees in 20th century United States history with an emphasis on civil rights from Vanderbilt University.
Margie DeAnda
Administrative Assistant II, Behavioral Health Program
Margie DeAnda serves as a project coordinator for WICHE’s Behavioral Health Unit and previously worked as an administrative assistant for the Mountain Plains Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center, a SAMHSA grant dedicated to providing training and technical support to rural, frontier, and tribal communities in SAMHSA Region 8. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with concentrations in finance and marketing/sales from Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. In her free time, Margie enjoys long beach strolls, reading, cooking, and spending time with her family, including her spirited Shih Tzu, Yo-Yo.
Karly Dickinson
Technical Assistance Associate - Psychologist, Behavioral Health Program
Cheryl Dowd
Senior Director, State Authorization Network and WCET Policy Innovations
Cheryl Dowd serves as the Senior Director, State Authorization Network and WCET Policy Innovations, and Cyber Fellow for WICHE. Dowd directs the activities and research to manage State and Federal regulatory compliance requirements for the out of state activities of the member institutions. As Cyber Fellow, Dowd is developing relationships with national education and security agencies to develop institutional data protection, privacy resources, and training opportunities to share with the WICHE community. Dowd earned her JD from the University of Richmond, MS in Criminal Justice from Bowling Green State University, and BS in Political Science from James Madison University.
Lindsey Downs
Assistant Director, Communications and Community, WCET
Lindsey Downs is manager of communications for the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) and has a background in communications, marketing, instructional design, higher education,and educational technology. She holds a M.Ed. in adult and higher education and a certification in college teaching from Montana State University, and is a certified instructional designer. Lindsey’s interests include teaching with technology, effective classroom facilitation, training, and classroom design.When not enjoying her work, Lindsey spends time in beautiful Helena, Mont. with her husband, boxer dog Piper, and cat Boo. Follow her adventures on Twitter: @lindsey0427.
Madison Dupré
Administrative Assistant III, Behavioral Health Program
Madison Dupré is a proud graduate from both Colorado State University (Go Rams!) and Phoenix Seminary. After a stint as a 3rd generation teacher, Madison is proud to work for WICHE Behavioral Health Program. She provides general administrative support, while focusing specifically on the Psychology Internship Consortia Program. Outside of work, Madison is a passionate reader, a mostly passionate runner, and seasonal cut-flower gardener. She also plays any instrument with strings, but particularly loves the piano. She joyfully serves alongside her husband as he pastors Overland Church, Fort Collins. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and a varying amount of fish.
Laura Ewing
Executive Assistant to the President and to the Commission
Laura Ewing has been with WICHE since 2007 and currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the President and to the 48 member Commission that governs WICHE. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Public Relations from Graceland University in Lamoni, IA. Community service is important to Laura. Most recently, she served and led the board of a local performing arts nonprofit for several years, and is an active volunteer with ministry programs.
Colleen Falkenstern
Senior Research Analyst, Policy Analysis and Research
303.541.0313cfalkenstern@wiche.edu
Colleen Falkenstern serves as a research analyst in WICHE’s Policy Analysis and Research unit. In her role, she supports the development of WICHE’s annual data resources—Regional Fact Book for Higher Education in the West, Benchmarks (of access and success), and Tuition and Fees in Public Higher Education in the West. She also provides analytical support for WICHE’s quadrennial projections of high school graduates, Knocking at the College Door. She received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from the University of South Carolina—Columbia and a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Denver.
Leigha Fletcher
Administrative Assistant III, WCET
303.541.0211lfletcher@wiche.edu
Leigha joined WCET in December 2020 as an administrative assistant for the State Authorization Network (SAN). In addition to providing administrative support for SAN, Leigha coordinates both member and renewal management and oversees accounting for the department. Prior to joining WCET, Leigha worked in property management and insurance, assisting with sales, resident retention, customer service, social media, and strategic marketing. In each of her roles, Leigha excelled at building rapport with clients and brings her passion for customer service to our organization.
Leigha lives in Springboro, Ohio with her husband Jon and four children: Jake, Trace, Bayleigh, and Ava. Outside of work, Leigha enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, attending her children’s sporting events, playing golf, and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Her favorite character is Alex Cross (played by actor Morgan Freeman), from the suspenseful book and film series Love, Kiss the Girls, and Along Came a Spider.
Ashley Fortier
Technical Assistance Lead - Psychologist, Behavioral Health Program
303.541.0251afortier@wiche.edu
Dr. Ashley Fortier serves as the Technical Assistance Lead for WICHE’s Behavioral Health Program (BHP), where she focuses on enhancing behavioral health programs and workforce development across the Western U.S. With a focus on increasing access to care in rural and frontier areas, Dr. Fortier partners with state agencies and organizations to implement effective, evidence-based solutions.
Her expertise includes collaborative research and publications on important topics like rural behavioral health, trauma-informed care, child and adolescent suicide prevention, and technology and innovation in psychology practices. Her clinical background spans a range of essential mental health services, including support for trauma survivors, individuals with severe mental illness, incarcerated youth and adults, and those in crisis.
Dr. Fortier earned her B.S. in Psychology and Criminal Justice from UMASS-Amherst and both her M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Forensic Psychology from TCSPP-Los Angeles. Now based in Denver, she enjoys exploring Colorado’s beautiful outdoors with her fiancé and dog.
Joseph Garcia
Senior Graphic Designer
303.541.0262jegarcia@wiche.edu
Joseph Garcia is the Senior Graphic Designer at WICHE and spearheaded the organization’s new brand aesthetic in 2022. He is responsible for the design of numerous published works at WICHE, ensuring they have a polished appearance while effectively communicating their message. Prior to WICHE, he honed his skills in various industries throughout the Denver Metro area, including marketing, publishing, instructional design, educational technology, and journalism. He attended Metropolitan State University of Denver on a full scholarship awarded from the Rocky Mountain News where he got his start as a newspaper reporter before transitioning to graphic design. Outside of work, Joseph hosts an award-winning film review podcast with his twin brother, and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic.
Sherri Artz Gilbert
Senior Director, Operations and Membership Administration, WCET
303.541.0209sartzgilbert@wiche.edu
Sherri Artz Gilbert, assistant director of operations and member services for WCET, has been with WICHE since 1999. Her principal responsibilities include preparing and managing the budget, coordinating the membership effort, and database maintenance. Previously, she worked for the Reading Musical Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes and facilitates music education and appreciation to preserve and develop musical experience and culture in Berks County, Pa. While there she was responsible for donor management and administration of the Blues in the Schools program. She received a B.S./B.A. from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania with a major in management and marketing. Originally from Pennsylvania Dutch country, Sherri currently resides above 9,200 feet in the Colorado mountains with her husband and two dogs.
Caitlyn Grubb
Program Evaluation and Research Coordinator, Behavioral Health Program
Molly Hall-Martin
Director, W-SARA, Policy Analysis and Research
303.541.0308mhmartin@wiche.edu
Molly E. Hall-Martin, Ph.D. (Kul Wicasa Oyate/Lower Brule Lakota) serves as Director for the WICHE State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (W-SARA) where she manages the implementation, administration, and oversight of W-SARA. Prior to joining WICHE, Molly served as the Director of Student Preparation & Success for the South Dakota Board of Regents, as a staff member at Lower Brule Community College, and as an intern at the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) and the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO). Molly holds a B.A. in American Indian Studies from the University of North Carolina, an M.Ed. in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Iowa.
Andie Hancock
Budget Coordinator, Behavioral Health Program
303.541.0309ahancock@wiche.edu
Andie Hancock is a Budget Coordinator for the WICHE Behavioral Health Program. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas and has 37 years of experience in administration. She previously worked for the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department for 34 years and learned everything from flowers to financials!
Onnika Hanson-White
Administrative Assistant III, Programs and Services
Onnika Hanson-White graduated from Oklahoma City University with a major in Acting. Before joining WICHE, she has worked mostly in food service as a bartender, caterer, and event designer. She is very excited to be working at WICHE and bringing her customer service background and love of working with others to her position as Administrative Assistant III in the Programs and Services unit.
Outside of work, Onnika sings in bands around Northern Colorado. She loves to support the local music scene and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Todd Helvig
Director of Education and Training, Behavioral Health Program
Todd Helvig earned his doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University after completing his internship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC) in 2000. He began his clinical work as a psychologist at the Colorado Department of Corrections Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center and became the manager of behavioral health services for the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility in 2004. He supervised the work of correctional psychologists, social workers, and substance use counselors alongside supervising the UCHSC correctional-based interns. He then moved to the Division of Parole in 2007, where he was the administrator of community behavioral health services and organized behavioral health resources in the community for offenders released from institutional settings who had mental health, substance use, or sex offender treatment needs. In 2013, Helvig left state correctional services to join Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network (ADMHN) as its director of business development for community behavioral health. While developing new business opportunities for ADMHN, Helvig was building a private consulting and coaching practice. Then, in 2018, his passion for nonprofit community behavioral health led him to CHARG Resource Center, where he served as executive director of a consumer-centric organization supporting the social, emotional, and psychiatric programs and services for those managing chronic mental illness in Denver, Colorado.
Throughout these roles, Helvig has had the pleasure of working with a wide variety and broad scope of behavioral health programs and services. He has worked alongside both city and state leaders to identify gaps in mental health and substance use services, implement evidence-based practices, and raise awareness for the needs of those for whom there are barriers to accessing services. He thrives not only on developing behavioral health resources but on developing those professionals who are providing services, including doctoral interns, psychologist candidates, and mental health as well as substance use treatment professionals. Helvig, with more than 20 years of work in community behavioral health, joins the WICHE Behavioral Health Program unit in the goal to develop programs, processes, and professionals which create essential access to behavioral health services for all those in need.
Norma Hollebeke
Senior Manager, Network Services and Programs, Every Learner Everywhere
Joyce Holliday
Administrative Assistant III, Every Learner Everywhere, WCET
303.541.0208jholliday@wiche.edu
Joyce Holliday is an administrative assistant for the Every Learning Everywhere program in the WCET unit of WICHE. She earned a bachelor of science degree from Colorado State University and has 25 years of experience in administration. Joyce recently earned a Professional Certification of Excellence with the American Society of Administrative Professionals. She previously worked for CU Boulder for 22 years. Outside of work, she keeps busy with her Angora show rabbits, grooming and attending shows across the country. Joyce uses the fiber from her angoras and alpacas to spin and create various fiber art creations.
Tonya Horn
Director of Program Evaluation and Research
Tonya Horn, MSW, PhD is the Director of Program Evaluation and Research for the WICHE Behavioral Health Program. She earned her master’s degree and PhD in social work from the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining WICHE, Dr. Horn was a tenured faculty member at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she led the development of new workforce training programs in integrated behavioral health care and the treatment of co-occurring disorders. Dr. Horn specializes in community-based participatory research methods that engage communities most impacted by social problems to identify solutions. She has worked closely with refugee-background communities for over 20 years and is passionate about improving behavioral health care systems to meet the needs of a diverse society and the development of a robust workforce that reflects the populations served.
Kay Hulstrom
Associate Director, Operations and Program Implementation, Programs and Services
303.541.0294khulstrom@wiche.edu
Kay Hulstrom serves as WICHE’s associate director of operations and academic leadership initiatives. She works on a variety of projects including the Western Academic Leadership Academy, the Western Academic Leadership Forum, and the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders. The latter two are membership organizations for the chief academic officers of WICHE-region two and four-year institutions and system offices. She holds a B.S. in finance from Colorado State University.
Kathryn Kerensky
Director, Digital Learning, Policy and Compliance, WCET
303.541.0290kkerensky@wiche.edu
Kathryn Kerensky has served as the Director, Director, Digital Learning, Policy, and Compliance with the State Authorization Network (SAN), which is a division of the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET), since 2021. She assists with the overall activities of SAN, with a focus on related institutional and programmatic compliance rules and regulations, including accreditation requirements, international compliance issues, and strategies for institutional regulatory compliance when serving students by means of digital learning. Previously, she served as a state authorization compliance professional at the University of Louisville for 7 years. Kerensky received her B.A. in psychology and Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville.
Debra Kupfer
Senior Consultant, Behavioral Health Program
Debra Kupfer has more than 40 years of public behavioral health experience as both a clinician and an administrator, including 15 years with the WICHE Behavioral Health Program as a senior consultant.
Kupfer spent 25 years with the Colorado Department of Human Services, serving as the mental health commissioner; manager; director of policy and planning of hospital services for the Colorado Office/Division of Behavioral Health; and as clinical therapist and adult division deputy administrator for the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan.
Currently, she is an executive board member for Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners in Colorado and serves on the executive committee of National Dialogues on Behavioral Health. Kupfer also served as a reviewer, monitor, and consultant for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Mental Health Block Grant for more than 15 years and as a national facilitator for Advocates for Human Potential’s Olmstead Community of Practice Initiative funded by SAMHSA.
Since 2007, Kupfer has worked with the U.S. Pacific Jurisdictions and the U.S. Virgin Islands on consulting projects, including:
- behavioral health system analyses and redesign
- crisis system development, strategic planning
- curriculum development, public policy, and planning efforts
- data reporting and quality management
- program evaluation
- rural workforce development
- crisis system planning, staffing studies, safety and security assessments, and
- developing opportunities to link behavioral health and primary care services in rural areas.
In recent years, Kupfer has served as the lead and/or supported several projects with the WICHE Behavioral Health Program, including:
- the Colorado Behavioral Health Needs Analysis – Current Status, Strategic Positioning and Future Planning
- Rural Veteran Suicide Prevention Project, in collaboration with the U.S. Veterans Administration
- Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care Evidence-based Practices Quality Improvement and Technical Assistance Initiative in Arizona
- Alaska Psychiatric Institute and Arizona State Hospital Technical Assistance
- Idaho Behavioral Health System Redesign
- Guam Transformation Transfer Initiative and Behavioral Health System Improvement Initiative, and
- the Alaska Complex Behavior Collaborative.
Additionally, Kupfer is a technical expert lead on the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Technical Assistance Project. These efforts have involved providing technical assistance, facilitating stakeholder groups, developing data collection instruments, leading focus groups, conducting key informant interviews, reporting findings, and developing recommendations for the enhancement of behavioral health systems.
Patrick Lane
Vice President, Policy Analysis and Research
Patrick Lane is the Vice President of WICHE’s Policy Analysis and Research unit. In this role, he oversees a range of work focused on improving access to and excellence in postsecondary education through sound public policy and research. This portfolio of work includes efforts to improve the value of postsecondary education, address students’ behavioral health needs, increase affordability, and ensure robust regional collaboration. He previously was WICHE’s director of data initiatives leading efforts to improve linkages between state data systems. Prior to this role, he coordinated WICHE’s efforts on adult learners and improving postsecondary access for low-income students. He came to WICHE after spending several years working in education policy in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Lane completed a doctorate in public administration at the University of Colorado Denver in 2015.
Andrew Martinez
Budget Manager, Behavioral Health Program
303.541.0205amartinez@wiche.edu
Andrew Martinez serves as the Budget Manager for WICHE’s Behavioral Health Program. Andrew has over 30 years of business administration experience focused on publicly funded behavioral health and human services systems. He has a broad depth of operational experience including public sector behavioral health program development and financing; programmatic and fiscal audits; accounting, rate studies, and legislative analysis, along with procurement, contracts, and federal grant management. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration’s Budget and Accounting Manager and was responsible for managing $500 million of various funding streams including state, federal and various cash funds. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Denver. Throughout his professional career, he has maintained a passion for leveraging resources to develop and maintain behavioral health and human services programs. In his spare time, he is an avid golfer, fitness enthusiast, and loves to work on his garden.
Demarée Michelau
President, WICHE
303.541.0201dmichelau@wiche.edu
Demarée K. Michelau is the President of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Located in Boulder, Colorado, WICHE was established through the Western Regional Education Compact and works to share knowledge, create resources, and develop innovative solutions that address some of society’s most pressing needs. From promoting high-quality, affordable postsecondary education to helping the region leverage their technology investments and addressing behavioral health challenges, WICHE improves lives across the West through innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy. As WICHE’s president, Michelau serves as the chief executive officer of the organization and at the pleasure of the WICHE Commission. Prior to serving as WICHE’s president, Michelau was WICHE’s vice president of the Policy Analysis and Research unit and oversaw externally funded projects. The author of numerous reports and policy briefs, she has experience in a variety of higher education policy issues, including those related to equity and attainment, governance, strategic planning, adult learners, transfer, accelerated learning options, affordability, and workforce. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC) and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Previously, she held positions with the National Conference of State Legislatures and with former Colorado Congressman David Skaggs. Michelau received her 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.
Dennis Mohatt
Vice President, Behavioral Health Program
Dennis Mohatt is vice president for behavioral health at WICHE, leading since 2001 its behavioral health program and its Center for Rural Mental Health Research. He has over 30 years of public mental health service. His work has included direct clinical care, clinical supervision, and CEO tenure in a rural CMHC serving Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Additionally, he led a HRSA-funded effort in the early 1990s to successfully integrate mental health and primary care in multiple rural family practice settings. During the late 1990s, he was deputy director for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, also serving as the state’s commissioner of mental health. He has served as a member of the National Rural Health Advisory Committee, and led national efforts relating to rural mental health including a role as chief consultant to the president’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. He is actively engaged in efforts focused on improving services to Veterans, Guard, and Reserve and their families; rural mental health policy; workforce development, and increasing adoption of integrated approaches to behavioral and primary care practice. His graduate training, supported by a NIMH Fellowship, focused on rural community-clinical psychology.
Camelia Naranjo
Interim Assistant Director - Academic Partnerships Learning and Development, Programs and Services
Camelia Naranjo
Interim Assistant Director - Academic Partnerships Learning and Development, Programs and Services
Mikayla Nelson
Administrative Assistant III, Together with Veterans
Mikayla Nelson believes in getting back to the basics of human connection, which drove her studies of Psychology at Western Washington University. She has over 10 years of customer support experience in various industries including manufacturing, human resources, animal care and financial services. She is thrilled to be working with WICHE as an Administrative Associate III in the Together with Veterans program, as she has the opportunity each day to play an influential part in helping support unique communities.
Mikayla is also certified by the State of Colorado as a notary public. Outside of the office environment, Mikayla spends her time training animals, watching movies, and cooking elaborate meals for friends and family
Patricia O'Sullivan
Manager, Content Development and Special Projects, Every Learner Everywhere
303-541-0247posullivan@wiche.edu
Patricia O’Sullivan joined WCET in 2021 and has served as the Every Learner Everywhere Content Manager since 2020. She oversees the development and publication of network assets in both text and video formats, collaborating with authors, reviewers, designers, and communications specialists. She has been an educator for nearly 30 years at both secondary and postsecondary levels. She previously worked at the University of Mississippi for 19 years where she held various positions including grant manager, teaching and learning specialist, instructional designer, student advisor, and instructor. O’Sullivan received her B.A. in communications at the University of Massachusetts, an M.A. in theology at Assumption University, and an M.A. in history from the University of Mississippi.
Bobbi Perkins
Director, Mountain Plains ROTAC/Technical Assistance Lead, Behavioral Health Program
303.541.0245bperkins@wiche.edu
Bobbi Perkins joined the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) in September 2021 as a Technical Expert Lead with the Health and Human Services (HHS) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. In 2022, WICHE secured funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center of Excellence for HHS Region 8. Bobbi serves as the Project Director for this project. Before joining WICHE, she worked at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division (BHDDD) since 2014. In this role, she represented Montana as the Single State Authority (SSA) for the behavioral health continuum of care. She oversaw the SAMHSA block and discretionary grants (SUBG, MHBG, PATH, Partnership for Success, State Opioid Response, FEMA Crisis Counseling, Pregnant and Post-Partum Women Pilot). Through this work, she worked with partners and experts in the field to identify prevention, treatment, and recovery support needs for individuals and families at risk for or struggling with substance, opioid, and stimulant use disorders. Collaboratively, she designed training and technical assistance to enhance access to evidence-based treatment across the behavioral health continuum. Bobbi has worked in emergency management as an Emergency Medical Technician and has been involved in the trauma designation processes since 1995. Bobbi earned an undergraduate degree in Organizational Communication from Montana State University, a certificate in Public Health Management from the University of Washington, and is pursuing dual master’s degrees in public health and public administration through the University of Montana.
Melissa Porphir
Fidelity Specialist
303.541.0250mporphir@wiche.edu
Melissa Porphir is a Quality Assurance and Fidelity Reviewer with WICHE’s Behavioral Health Program. She has a Master of Science in Psychology from Walden University and many years of experience in the behavioral health field. She is eager to improve client care in the industry. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with the Animal Defense League of Arizona and getting her sweat on in group fitness classes at the gym
Russ Poulin
Executive Director, WCET and Vice President for Technology-Enhanced Education
As the Executive Director of WCET, Russell Poulin leads an organization focusing on the practice, policy, and advocacy of digital learning in higher education. WCET member institutions and organizations hail from all 50 states and Canada. As WICHE’s Vice President for Technology-Enhanced Education, Poulin advises on policies and projects. WCET includes the membership-based State Authorization Network and the grant-funded Every Learner Everywhere network. Poulin has been recognized for national contributions to digital learning policy and practice. Poulin previously led distance education collaboration for the North Dakota University System.
Megan Raymond
Senior Director, Membership and Programs, WCET
303.541.0233mraymond@wiche.edu
Megan Raymond has been with WICHE since 2007. She directs the programs, events, and sponsorships for WCET, the national leader in the practice, policy, and advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education. Prior to WICHE, Megan was entrenched in student affairs at a small liberal arts college. In her spare time she enjoys racing mountain bikes and chasing her son on his bike or feet. Her overly hyper and eternal puppy, Rango, also keeps her on her toes.
Annette Robertson
Fidelity Review Program Manager, Behavioral Health Program
602.705.4064arobertson@wiche.edu
Annette Robertson, LMSW is a Fidelity Reviewer with the WICHE Behavioral Health Program and has been a licensed social worker for more than 25 years. She earned a Master of Social Work degree with a focus in Policy, Administration and Communities from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Moorhead State University, Minnesota. Prior to joining WICHE in 2017, she delivered: behavioral health services to adults in one of the largest populated counties in the U.S.; school based behavioral health services to children and their families on an Ojibwe reservation in rural Minnesota; family based services to families whose children were at risk of being placed out of the home; and for a brief period, supported persons with chronic kidney failure. Annette currently works on a contract with the State of Arizona Medicaid program, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, one of the first Medicaid programs to bring integrated mental and physical health care to its residents. For WICHE, Annette evaluates adult behavioral health programs’ ability to meet the fidelity of SAMHSA’s Evidenced Based Practices being used throughout Arizona.
Vanessa Roup
Technical Assistance Associate – RCORP/ROTAC, Behavioral Health Program
Vanessa Roup is a Technical Assistance Associate for the Behavioral Health Program. She works primarily on the Rural Opioid Response Project and Mountain Plains Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center. Additionally, Vanessa oversees the South Dakota IMPACT Quality Assurance Reviews and supports the Guam PIC Project. Vanessa graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2018 earning a Double Bachelor of Arts – Biology and Environmental Studies, with Minors in Business and Communications, and a Certificate in Public Health. In May 2024, Vanessa graduated from the Colorado School of Public Health with her Masters in Public Health from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. During her Masters, she emphasized her research on climate change’s effects on mental health and wellbeing. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and dogs, baking, video games, and spending time with friends and family.
Melissa Sanders
Administrative Assistant III, Policy Analysis and Research
303.541.0232msanders@wiche.edu
Melissa Sanders graduated with a B.A. in international studies from Colorado State University and continued her education with a masters of science in organizational leadership from University of Colorado, Boulder. She serves as the support staff for WICHE’s policy unit and continues to greatly enjoy her work assisting the world of higher education. Outside of WICHE, she enjoys backpacking, reading, socializing, participating in sports, and serving her church community.
Christina Sedney
Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Policy Analysis and Research
Christina Sedney is the Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives at WICHE, where she works on a variety of topics including approaches to serving underrepresented student populations, higher education governance issues, and policy solutions for adult learners. Prior to WICHE, Sedney worked for international nonprofit Teach For All and completed a fellowship with the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. She also held multiple roles with the AmeriCorps program City Year, from classroom-based corps member to project manager on their public policy team. She holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley.
Flora Shirzadian
Data Specialist, Behavioral Health Program
303.541.0277fshirzadian@wiche.edu
Flora Shirzadian serves as a Data Specialist at WICHE Behavioral Health Program, where she brings over twenty years of technology development experience from her tenure at Seagate Technology, underpinned by a solid foundation in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In her role, Flora leverages her deep passion for data analytics to support and advance the mission of enhancing behavioral health services. Beyond her professional endeavors, Flora has a rich tapestry of personal interests. She loves hiking, and dancing and is an adventurous cook, always eager to experiment with new recipes. Above all, Flora cherishes storytelling and active listening, often found at coffee shops engaging deeply in conversation and debates. When not out and about, she is at home in her pajamas, experimenting with fermenting foods, and exploring the delicious possibilities of culinary science.
Melanie Sidwell
Director of Communications
303.541.0237msidwell@wiche.edu
Melanie Sidwell is the director of communications at WICHE, where she supports our mission through strategic communications, media relations, and content services. Prior to joining WICHE, she served in marketing and communications, alumni relations, and advancement roles at the University of Colorado, and she worked as a journalist for newspapers in Nebraska, Florida, and Colorado. A first-generation college graduate, Sidwell holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master’s degree in media studies from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Ivory Tubbs
Technical Expert Lead, RCORP, Behavioral Health Program
Ivory Tubbs: Prior to earning his doctorate in psychology, Ivory served in the United States Air Force during Operation Desert Shield in logistics in 1991. Prior to his discharge from the military, Ivory’s career in the mental/behavioral health field began in Las Vegas, Nevada as a crisis intervention specialist. Later, he transitioned to the role of child development assistant with Clark County Family Services.
In 1999 he was appointed as the Executive Director of Windsor Village Social Services, an agency working in conjunction with FEMA to provide emergency food, shelter and utility assistance for area residents. In addition to fulfilling his duties as Executive Director, Ivory was also a Senior Public Health Investigator with the City of Houston, Bureau of Epidemiology conducting psycho-social assessments regarding sexual practices and opioid use within the HIV/AIDS community for the CDC. After his simultaneous roles as Executive Director and Senior Public Health Investigator, Ivory began adding to his knowledge base by joining the University of Texas School of Health Sciences, Psychiatric Center working with acute and subacute psychosis patients as well as patients in the forensic psychology unit for the Houston Police Department.
Ivory was also a Psychological Assessor focusing on dual diagnosis patients as well as outpatient therapy to monitor psychotropic drug interactions. Ivory took a hiatus from behavioral health to become an HR Manager in compliance and performance management for Walmart US. Ivory has served on several boards of directors and has done extensive work in the homeless community. He has also held the role of director working with the developmentally delayed population.
Olivia Tufo
Manager, Community Engagement and Development, Programs and Services
Olivia Tufo is the manager of community engagement and development for the Programs & Services unit at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). The Programs and Services unit broadens student access to postsecondary education and fosters higher education collaborations that increase institutional effectiveness. Tufo manages membership of the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders and the Western Academic Leadership Forum. Tufo also works on initiatives that bring together the West’s higher education leaders to address common goals and issues, such as the No Holding Back study and the Interstate Passport Network which aims to streamline the student transfer process through a nationwide network of institutions.
Jana Walser-Smith
Director, Interstate Compliance and SAN Member Outreach
303.541.0289jwalsersmith@wiche.edu
Jana Walser-Smith joined SAN in September of 2022 as the Director, Interstate Compliance and SAN Member Outreach where she assists with engaging, training, communicating, and supporting SAN members. Jana serves as the lead educator addressing foundational principles of state authorization and state-to-state institutional approvals through the development of training events and resources that reinforce the foundational principles of interstate compliance. Additionally, Jana serves as the chief communicator in the development of efficient communication practices to engage SAN members.
Jana comes to SAN from Southern New Hampshire University and previously from the University of North Carolina (UNC) System Office, UNC Greensboro, and Appalachian State University where she served in various compliance and state authorization roles. She additionally has many years of experience as a Faculty Lecturer and Adjunct Faculty at institutions in North Carolina. Prior to these roles, Jana also worked in corporate finance for multiple fortune 200 organizations.
Jana holds an EdD degree from Appalachian State University, MA from Wake Forest University, and a BS from High Point University. Beyond her role at SAN, Jana enjoys traveling, perusing antique and collectable showrooms, working with church and community projects, spending time with her husband and three adult daughters, and rearing her 11-year-old great-niece.