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WCET Experts
Looking for an expert or spokesperson on a specific digital learning practice or policy issue? For the fastest response, reach out to wcetinfo@wiche.edu. Below, you’ll find details on our team of experts and their areas of specialization.
Van Davis
Executive Director, WCET & Vice President, Digital Learning, WICHE
Expertise Includes:
- Artificial Intelligence,
- Policy and Practice,
- Federal and State Distance Education Policy,
- Degree Completion Initiatives,
- Competency-based Education,
- the Cost and Price of Distance Education, and,
- the Future of Higher Education and Digital Learning.
Bio
Van Davis joined WCET in 2021 as chief strategy officer, and in 2025, he became WCET’s executive director and WICHE’s vice president for digital learning. Davis oversees all strategic and operational responsibilities of WCET’s membership, the State Authorization Network (SAN) that assists institutions with interstate compliance, and Every Learner Everywhere, focused on using digital learning for equitable outcomes.
Van has over 25 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member, academic administrator, state policy maker, and edtech leader. He holds a Master’s and PhD in 20th Century US history with an emphasis in civil rights from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor’s in history from Southwestern University. Prior to joining WCET and WICHE, Davis served as principal at Foghlam Consulting, 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 public and private universities with historically underrepresented student populations.
Van lives outside of Austin, Texas, and will relocate to WICHE headquarters in Boulder, CO, later this summer with his beloved wife, Lisa, and two cats. When not working, Van collects Lego models and dreams of the day he can complete his western US camping trip.
Laura DaVinci
Director, Every Learner Everywhere
303-541-0212ldavinci@wiche.edu
Expertise Includes:
- Digital Learning Strategies in Higher Education,
- Professional Learning for Effective Digital Learning,
- Collaborative Partnerships in Higher Education Innovation.
Bio
Laura joined the WCET team in June 2018 as the associate director for Every Learner Everywhere and is currently the Director. In her current position, Laura oversees Every Learner Network operations, cross-network communication, and information sharing. She also manages multiple highly complex projects that entail collaboration with diverse partners, institutions, consultants, our funder, and multiple other organizational stakeholders. In each of her endeavors, Laura builds and maintains strong relationships with partners while ensuring timely progress on all projects.
Laura’s expertise and specialized skills have contributed to the success of numerous projects within the field of education. More specifically, she has streamlined network activities, increased the team’s ability to track and report on multiple complex projects, and increased consistency while maintaining continuous improvement and transparency within network operations. Before joining the Every Learner Everywhere team, Laura was the grants manager for Aims Community College and taught computer science at the college level. She has also held a number of TRIO positions helping poverty-affected and first-generation students enter and be successful in college. Additionally, Laura has managed multiple international educational grants funded by the European Commission.
Outside of work, she can be found traveling and enjoying nature, whether hiking, camping, or fishing with her family. Laura is a knowledge seeker and book lover, and her favorite character is Hermione Granger – after all, who doesn’t want to have some magic?
Cheryl Dowd
Senior Director, State Authorization Network & WCET Policy Innovations
Expertise Includes:
- Policy analysis for judicial opinions, statutes, regulations, and guidance related to postsecondary digital education,
- Compliance training for institutions to meet distance education-related requirements to provide student consumer protections,
- State and Federal Compliance considerations for out-of-state activity compliance for postsecondary institutions (including for military students).
Bio
Cheryl joined WCET in August 2015 as the director of the State Authorization Network. She currently serves as the senior director, policy innovations. She directs the overall activities of WCET’s State Authorization Network (SAN), including coordination of staff addressing interstate policy and compliance and other ancillary compliance issues. As senior director, Cheryl also serves the overall WCET membership in addressing emerging and special regulatory issues related to digital learning in postsecondary education. She brings extensive experience in education and compliance to the WCET team and is a contributing author for State Authorization of Colleges and Universities, a guidebook for understanding the legal basis for State and Federal compliance for activities of postsecondary institutions.
Cheryl holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Richmond, a master’s degree in criminal justice from Bowling Green State University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from James Madison University. She is the mother of four kids, all of whom have been instrumental in helping her develop new interests in theatre, hockey, and figure skating. Outside of work, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her family and is an avid fan of movies and TV shows written by Aaron Sorkin.
Norma Hollebeke
Associate Director, Innovation and Programs, Every Learner Everywhere
Expertise Includes:
- Digitally-enhanced STEM course design and teaching,
- Evidence-based pedagogy for multiple modalities,
- Developing and implementing professional learning,
- Academic program innovation, strategy, and development (specializing in STEM programs.
Bio
Norma joined WCET in August 2020 and brings more than 20 years of higher education experience to the Every Learner Everywhere Network. At Every Learner Everywhere, Norma leads service design across the network and is the main point of contact with intermediaries and their institutions. Supports vision and strategy for the network through new innovative programming and new revenue streams.
Prior to joining our team, Norma worked in the private sector as a consultant and led the development of a new distance learning product line at a science education and supply company. Norma was also an associate dean at CCCOnline (Colorado) and a tenured faculty member and associate professor at Sinclair Community College. She earned both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso.
In her spare time, Norma can be found hiking the Rocky Mountain trails and volunteering with the Denver Area Boy Scout Council. One may also find her watching one of her two favorite films: Fried Green Tomatoes or Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death.
Kathryn Kerensky
Director, Digital Learning Policy & Compliance, State Authorization Network
Expertise Includes:
- State authorization of distance education,
- Federal regulatory compliance relating to distance education (including regular and substantive interaction),
- Compliance considerations for operating internationally.
Bio
Kathryn joined us in July 2021 as the director, digital learning policy, and compliance where she assists with the overall activities of the WCET State Authorization Network (SAN). In collaboration with the senior director for policy innovations and the director, interstate policy and compliance, she focuses on 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. Kathryn coordinates training materials, builds communities of practice, and canvasses members for compliance strategies; she is an integral asset to our team.
Previously, Kathryn worked on state authorization and related compliance issues for the University of Louisville for seven years, during which she gained experience in analyzing and interpreting various federal, state, and accreditor requirements while developing institutional policies and procedures for compliance. Her exemplary work and dedication earned her institution three SANsational awards along with multiple invitations to present at conferences and webinars.
Kathryn earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville and is a licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Outside of work, Kathryn spends time with her family (her husband, son, and three cats). From running to fostering cats and kittens for a local rescue organization to listening to podcasts, Kathryn keeps plenty busy and, when she’s not busy chasing around her toddler son, she enjoys immersing herself in various craft and video projects.
Currently, her favorite character is “the Joker” (Heath Ledger, from the Dark Knight).
Patricia O'Sullivan
Associate Director, Strategy Execution, Every Learner Everywhere
Expertise Includes:
- Using EBTs to teach online,
- Integrating generative AI into online teaching,
- Teaching with OER.
Bio
Patricia O’Sullivan joined the Every Learner Everywhere team in September 2020. She has worked in higher education since 2000 as an instructor, student advisor, faculty development specialist, instructional designer, and grant manager. As associate director of strategy execution, she manages network operations, reporting and metrics, relationships with network partners, and funder operations. She taught World Religions at the University of Mississippi (UM) for 14 years, and currently teaches Health Ethics in the UM School of Pharmacy. She holds a B.A. in Communications from UMass Amherst, an M.A. in Theology from Assumption College, and an M.A. in history from the University of Mississippi.