Kirsten Winek

Kirsten M. Winek, J.D., Ph.D., has served as the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ (NWCCU) Senior Vice President for Legal and Regulatory Affairs since 2026.  Before joining NWCCU, she was Accreditation Counsel for the American Bar Association’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.  In this role, she oversaw regulatory and compliance work related to the U.S. Department of Education’s recognition of accrediting agencies and oversaw changes and updates to the accreditation standards and rules.

She has also been heavily involved in the accreditation community, serving as a site visitor or appeals panel member for three different accrediting agencies.  She also has been actively involved in the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) and the Chicago Area Accreditors Association.

Previously, Dr. Winek worked in law schools as a staff member or administrator.  She has also taught higher education law courses as an adjunct professor to students at the M.A., Ph.D., and J.D. levels at two universities.

Dr. Winek received her B.A. from Hope College, her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law, and her Ph.D. from the University of Toledo Judith Herb College of Education.  She resides in Chicago, Illinois, and enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family in her free time.