Kim Nawrocki

Kim is assistant director of events and programs, a position in which she oversees logistics for WCET’s numerous webcasts and member events, the Annual Meeting, and the Summit. Her attention to detail and strategic facilitation help make many of our events and programs possible. She joined WICHE in 2013, working in the Program and Services Unit until May 2020 when she joined the WCET team.

Before moving to beautiful Boulder, CO, Kim spent several years herding hospital executives at a hospital in West Virginia. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in international studies and Spanish from West Virginia University. In her spare time, Kim can be found cuddling her senior pugs and exploring Colorado’s abundant parks and hiking trails with her husband and toddler. Kim’s favorite character is Alexis Rose from the infamous television series Schitt’s Creek.

Justin Louder

As associate vice president for academic innovation at Anthology, Justin Louder collaborates with North American campuses, enhancing online learning, designing new programs, and implementing technologies. He has authored white papers and presentations on AI in Higher Education, Trauma-Informed Instruction, micro-credentials, and culturally responsive online teaching. Previously AVP of Texas Tech University’s Worldwide Learning, he transformed TTU, expanding regional sites, offering 100+ online degrees, and growing online enrollments to 4,000. With a legacy of innovation, Justin continues to shape the educational landscape.

Joyce Holliday

Joyce started as an administrative assistant with Every Learner Everywhere in November 2017. In this role, Joyce represents Every Learner Everywhere by assisting team members in multiple areas of support. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and has 25 years of experience in administration. Before joining our team, Joyce worked for CU Boulder for 22 years. Outside of work, Joyce can be found either outside or in her barn where she stays busy with her fiber producing animals which currently include angora rabbits, alpacas, and goats. A life-long learner, Joyce enjoys mastering new fiber art skills in spinning, weaving, knitting, crocheting, and felting. She remains passionate about utilizing her animal science degree and expanding her knowledge of husbandry, genetics, and livestock species. In fact, her favorite movie is Temple Grandin, a film about a remarkable woman who became world renown in her animal behavior research and her contributions to understanding how people with autism process their world.

Norma Hollebeke

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 and delivery initiatives including marketing, facilitates strategic assessment and reporting, and supports network partners in continuously improving service offerings.

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.

Darcy Hardy

Darcy W. Hardy is the Founder and Chief Strategist with the Hardy Group. Dr. Hardy is an award-winning distance and online learning professional who has worked as a higher education administrator, as an IPA with the Obama Administration, a board member in state and national associations, and as a contributor in higher education ed tech. Within the field of online learning, she focuses on strategy & vision; organization & governance; policy, process & practice; and quality oversight.

Dr. Hardy spent over 30 years in public higher education, including The University of Texas System, The University of Texas at Austin, UT San Antonio, and Texas State University – San Marcos. 

Dr. Hardy was honored by Texas State University as a Distinguished Alumna in 2012. She was inducted into the USDLA Hall of Fame in 2009 and received the Mildred and Charles Wedemeyer Outstanding Distance Learning Practitioner Award in Madison, Wisconsin in 2006. In addition, she was inducted into the Texas Distance Learning Association Hall of Fame in 2006 and received the WCET Richard Jonsen Award in 2005. She earned her PhD in Curriculum & Instruction (Instructional Technology) from The University of Texas at Austin in 1992.

Sherri Artz Gilbert

As Senior Director of Operations and Membership Administration, Sherri oversees many of the logistics that facilitate the growth and sustainability of our organization. More specifically, Sherri is responsible for preparing and managing the annual budget and managing our membership database and integrations. She is also responsible for member retention and membership administration along with maintaining our team’s day-to-day operations. Additionally, for the past 15 years, Sherri has been chair of WICHE’s Administrative Policy Advisory Committee (APAC). APAC is charged with developing, reviewing, revising, and recommending internal administrative and management policies to the WICHE president.

Prior to joining WCET, Sherri worked for the Reading Musical Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes and facilitates music education and appreciation in order to preserve and develop musical experience and culture in Berks County, Pennsylvania. In her previous role, she was responsible for donor management and administration of the Blues in the Schools program. Sherri received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania with a dual major in Management and Marketing.

Originally from Pennsylvania Dutch country, Sherri currently resides above 9,200 feet in the Colorado Rocky Mountains with her husband and dogs. Two of her favorite films include Silver Linings Playbook and Christmas Vacation.

Leigha Fletcher

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.

Lindsey Downs

Lindsey started with WCET as a consultant in March of 2016 and became the manager of communications for WCET the following September. Now in her current role, Lindsey represents WCET to the outside world through press relations, social media, and publications. She develops content such as member newsletters and collects and summarizes higher education digital learning news articles and is the administrator and community manager for our virtual community platform, wcetMIX. Lindsey is an integral part of our team and each year she manages the WCET Awards program to honor our innovative members and serves as the editor for WCET Frontiers 

Prior to joining WCET, Lindsey worked in the Montana State University Information Technology Center on their communications and instructional technology teams and with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, first as a training specialist and then as an instructional designer. Lindsey holds a Masters of Education in Higher Education and Adult Learning, a College Teaching certification from Montana State University, and a Masters Certificate in Instructional Design with an Online Learning Specialization from Walden University.  

Lindsey affectionately calls her home filled with two rambunctious boxer dogs (Piper and Bogart) and an energetic toddler (Josie), her “circus,” and loves spending time chasing her kiddos around the trails throughout Helena, MT with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys baking and cooking, especially when her recipes actually turn out well. Lindsey is an avid reader who enjoys reading about many book characters, namely Harry from Harry Potter and Josephine March from the classic Little Women. In fact, Jo March happens to be her daughter’s namesake.  

Cheryl Dowd

Cheryl joined WCET in August of 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, along with 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.

Van Davis

Van joined WCET in 2021 as chief strategy officer where he is responsible for all aspects of WCET’s strategic planning; artificial intelligence research; diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; and assisting the team with policy and research efforts.

Van is a valuable asset to the team, having over 25 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member, academic administrator, state policy maker, and edtech leader. Van holds a PhD in 20th century US history with an emphasis in civil rights from Vanderbilt University, and his commitment to education is evidenced in both his professional and personal successes. Additionally, Van led the creation of the Texas adult degree complete project and the development of the first competency-based bachelor’s degrees at Texas public institutions of higher education during his time on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Van lives outside of Austin, Texas, with his beloved wife Lisa and two cats and, when not working, spends time collecting Lego models and dreaming of the day he can complete his western US camping trip. Van’s favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird, and his favorite movie is Dr. Strangelove.