Understanding Recent Federal Department of Education Policy and Practice Updates 

Van Davis

Executive Director, WCET & Vice President, Digital Learning, WICHE

vdavis@wiche.edu

LinkedIn Profile

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, which advocates for successful academic outcomes for all postsecondary education students through advances in digital learning. 

Van has 30 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, Van 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 in Colorado with his beloved wife, Lisa, and their cat, Kody. When not working, Van collects Lego models and dreams of the day he can complete his western US camping trip.  

Cheryl Dowd

Senior Director, State Authorization Network & WCET Policy Innovations

cdowd@wiche.edu

LinkedIn Profile

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.

Kathryn Kerensky

Director, Digital Learning Policy & Compliance, State Authorization Network

kkerensky@wiche.edu

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).