Michael Westerfield has 48 years of higher education experience. He has served as a professor of English, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President for Student Life, Vice President for Graduate Studies, Provost, and President. He has also been deeply involved with accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), serving as a Peer Reviewer, team chair, Institutional Actions Committee member, substantive change reviewer, a member of several advisory committees, ranging from assessment to the development of online training modules for Peer Reviewers. He has chaired over sixty visits for the Commission. In addition, Michael serves as a Public Member for the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

Michael earned the AA in Liberal Arts from York University, the BA in English from Harding University, the MA in English from Pittsburg State University, and the PhD in English from the University of Nebraska.

Recognizing the dynamic nature of higher education and the need to support change and growth, he is pleased to join the WSCUC Substantive Change team as a part-time Associate.