Russ Poulin to Retire After 30 Years of Leadership and Service

Statement from WICHE President Demarée Michelau:

After three decades, Russ Poulin, executive director of WCET and vice president of technology-enhanced education for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), has announced that he is retiring at the end of this year. Our friends at WCET, as well as the WICHE Commission, were informed of this announcement earlier this week. Russ has been a trusted colleague, friend, and tireless advocate for innovations in instruction and student support for 30 years, and the impact that his leadership and knowledge has had in this space cannot be understated.

For the past five years, Russ has led WCET through the COVID-19 pandemic. WCET’s main membership and the State Authorization Network (that assists institutions with interstate compliance) experienced unprecedented growth since that time, while Every Learner Everywhere emerged as a leader in the use of digital learning for equitable outcomes in higher education. Russ’ work and expertise extends beyond WCET and WICHE: he has served on federal negotiated rulemaking panels, was active in the creation of interstate reciprocity, is a frequent public speaker, and has been recognized by other organizations for his contributions. Prior to 2019, Russ served as WCET’s senior director of policy, analysis, and strategic alliances. Previously, he led distance education collaboration for the North Dakota University System.

“As I prepare to step away from my roles at WCET and WICHE, I am grateful for a career that has been both fulfilling and challenging,” Russ said. “Each day has been a source of joy, as I have had the privilege of witnessing the incredible instructional innovations and student support initiatives emerging from our colleges and universities. While I will miss the opportunity to learn from you all, looking to the future, I am heartened that our efforts and leadership in digital learning will continue and thrive thanks to the extraordinary staff and cooperative spirit of our WCET, SAN, and ELE members. Thank you for this remarkable journey.”

Russ’ last day will be December 31; a candidate search is anticipated to open August 26.

We wish Russ a happy and healthy next phase of his life, as evidenced by the above he has most certainly earned it! We hope that he enjoys a retirement full of movie nights with his wife, Laurie, and their cat, Luna.