Charles Welch Named ASU President
By Arkansas Business Staff - 11/9/2010 2:21:35 PM

Dr. Charles L. Welch of Arkadelphia, president of Henderson State University, has been named the new president of Arkansas State University, KAIT-TV, Channel 8, reported.

Welch, 37, a Jonesboro native, became president of HSU in 2008. He had previously been chancellor at University of Arkansas Community College at Hope.

Welch got a degree in political science at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1995, after which he took a White House internship and later worked in the offices of Sen. David Pryor and then-Rep. (now Sen.) Blanche Lincoln before returning to Arkansas to work with Jimmie Lou Fisher.

He joined Pulaski Technical College as dean of university studies from 2000-03 while working on his doctorate in education. He then moved to Arkansas State University at Beebe as vice chancellor of academic affairs. He was named chancellor of the UA Community College at Hope in January 2005, the same year he was named to Arkansas Business' 40 Under 40 class. 

"I am excited about the opportunity," Welch said in a news release on Tuesday. "I told Henderson when I accepted that position that I would only consider leaving for an extraordinary opportunity and this [ASU System] is indeed an extraordinary opportunity. This is a chance to assist a system with growing, developing, advancing and helping young people, just like I was, have the opportunities that I have been fortunate to have."

Welch was one of three finalists who interviewed for the job this week. The other two finalists were Dr. Richard J. Federinko of Dadeville, Ala., senior vice chancellor at Troy University; and Dr. William B. Richardson Jr. of Baton Rouge, La., chancellor of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, and Chalkley Family Endowed Chair.

Welch replaces Dr. Lesile Wyatt, who retired in June. Wyatt, who helped the university implement a shared governance method, became president in 1995. Wyatt remains at ASU as a professor of higher education. He is currently on sabbatical.

Dr. Robert Potts, chancellor of ASU-Jonesboro, has been interim president during the search for a permanent replacement.