Dr. Demarée K. Michelau

Demarée K. Michelau is President of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), where she leads the organization’s work to advance educational access and excellence across the West through innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy. In that role, she works with Western states, Pacific Island jurisdictions, postsecondary institutions, and regional and national partners to strengthen higher education’s contributions to the region’s social, economic, and civic life. Before becoming president, Michelau served as WICHE’s Vice President, Policy Analysis and Research, contributing to the organization’s policy and research agenda and leading externally funded initiatives. She is the author of numerous publications and brings deep expertise in higher education policy, governance, strategic planning, postsecondary attainment, transfer, affordability, and workforce issues. She also serves as a commissioner for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and on the boards of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC). Earlier in her career, she held positions with the National Conference of State Legislatures and former Colorado Congressman David Skaggs. Michelau earned her bachelor’s degree in public law from Northern Illinois University and her master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of Colorado Boulder.