Where Accuracy Meets Insight: A Conversation with Nan Kalke, PhD
As part of HELP’s Behind the Curtain series, we’re spotlighting the experts and rigorous research that make The Bookmark a trusted licensure resource.
Co-Founder and Principal, Higher Education Licensure Pros
When institutions talk about HELP, one theme surfaces again and again: clarity. In a landscape defined by shifting federal rules, evolving state laws, and deep program-level nuance, HELP has built its reputation on providing clear, accurate, and actionable information.
Much of that steadiness comes from one of HELP’s co-founders, Nan Kalke, PhD, whose background in higher education leadership, accreditation, and distance education shaped the foundation for what HELP - and The Bookmark - would become.
Today, Nan plays a central role in ensuring the quality, accuracy, and consistency of the licensure information institutions rely on every day. We recently sat down with her to talk about HELP’s early days, the turning points that shaped the company, and what she sees on the horizon for higher education compliance.
Meeting a Need - and Building a New Model for Compliance
Like many innovations in higher ed, HELP began with an urgent question.
When federal Title IV regulations were implemented, institutions were suddenly responsible for determining whether programs met educational requirements for licensure in all 59 states and territories - and for communicating this information to students clearly and accurately. For most colleges and universities, it was an overwhelming shift.
Nan recalls it clearly:
“It was huge for colleges — it still is. Even though they don’t have to publicly disclose all 59 anymore, it’s still a massive undertaking.”
At the time, Nan had just stepped away from a full-time role after years of supporting specialized accreditation, managing counseling, social work, and distance learning programs, and teaching at the graduate level. She understood the strain institutions were under and how few internal staff had the time, structure, or expertise to meet the new requirements.
When a colleague mentioned the severity of the compliance burden, Nan and co-founder Kris Maul saw a possible solution. “We asked what other institutions were doing, and realized no one had a sustainable model. So we partnered, combined our skill sets, and started building.”
A Turning Point: Scaling Early Research Into a National Resource
In HELP’s early days, one milestone stood out: statewide partners began turning to HELP to tackle the sheer volume of licensure research institutions needed. When one of their first clients asked HELP to compile licensure requirements across its member institutions, it confirmed what Nan and Kris already knew - institutions everywhere were struggling with the same questions, the same requirements, and the same need for consistency.
Soon after, additional state and regional partners began requesting similar support, each reinforcing the demand for accurate, centralized licensure information.
“Those early projects helped us gather, organize, and validate a significant body of licensure data,” Nan recalls. “Once we saw how many institutions needed the same information, the next step was clear: we had to make this work accessible and scalable.”
That realization ultimately led to The Bookmark, HELP’s licensure intelligence platform - a continuously updated, nationally scoped resource designed to serve institutions of every type and size.
Building Community Through Clarity
One of the surprising benefits of The Bookmark? Community.
Nan hears it often - at national conferences, in online forums, and even during demos:
“People talk about The Bookmark with each other. They reference it when they’re sorting through new Title IV requirements or comparing notes across states. It’s become part of the shared language of compliance.”
She sees enormous potential here. As institutions lean more heavily on cross-institution collaboration, she envisions HELP expanding that connective tissue: peer learning opportunities, educator-specific cohorts, and spaces where faculty, compliance officers, and licensure teams can support one another.
“People crave a place to ask questions and talk through the details and that’s exactly the work we do best.”
Detail-Oriented and People-Centered: On Purpose
One of HELP’s defining traits is its ability to hold two values at once: precision and partnership.
For Nan, the balance is natural.
“We’re helping people with the details. That’s the work. Whether it’s interpreting a requirement or reviewing how we’ve presented something, we’re supporting the individuals who are responsible for getting it right.”
Her favorite part of the job? The one-on-one problem solving.
She shares an example of working with a Bookmark member who needed to understand supervisor qualification requirements for a counseling program across multiple states.
“We went back and forth many times. I walked her through how to read what the law says. It took a lot of time but she was incredibly appreciative. And many of the people we support don’t have anyone else to talk through these details with.”
Staying Ahead of a Moving Target
Compliance never sits still - and neither does HELP.
Nan oversees the daily flow of research updates, final reviews, research team meetings, and quality assurance efforts that keep The Bookmark current. The work is constant, but it’s also forward-looking.
Right now, what excites her most are HELP’s specialized research tracks:
Teacher education, with expert support led by researcher Emily Bogus
CPA licensure, where HELP is deepening its research capacity
Nursing, where institutions face fast-evolving requirements
And building deeper connections with state boards
“Having researchers who stay connected to specific boards and associations — who have their ear to the ground — is essential. It means institutions don’t just see what changed. They understand what’s coming.”
The Need Is Still Growing - And HELP Is Growing With It
Even as the federal landscape shifts under different administrations, Nan is clear-eyed about the ongoing reality: The compliance burden hasn’t disappeared.
Institutions still need accurate, consistent, and defensible licensure information. They still need to know how to meet their responsibilities under Title IV. They still need partners who understand both the regulatory landscape and the on-the-ground pressures facing faculty, deans, and compliance teams.
“The need is still out there — absolutely. And keeping The Bookmark up to date, accurate, and expanding is critical for institutions and for students.”
As HELP enters its next chapter, Nan looks forward to continuing that work and to supporting the increasingly complex needs of programs across the country.
“I’m excited about what we’re building next. The Bookmark is growing, our team is growing, and the field still needs us.”
About Nan Kalke, PhD
Nan Kalke is Co-Founder of Higher Education Licensure Pros (HELP), where she leads research quality, licensure data validation, and cross-state regulatory analysis for The Bookmark. She brings decades of experience in higher education, including roles in specialized accreditation, counseling and social work program administration, distance education management, and graduate-level teaching.
Nan oversees HELP’s licensure research processes, supports institutions navigating complex program-level requirements, and ensures that The Bookmark remains the most accurate, comprehensive licensure resource available to colleges and universities nationwide.
Why Teams Trust The Bookmark
The Bookmark by Higher Education Licensure Pros is the only platform with verified, up-to-date licensure information for every state and territory, curated by legal researchers and verified by experts like Nan, so your institution can stay compliant and focused on student success.
Explore The Bookmark → https://www.higheredlicensurepros.com/the-bookmark
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