Chuck Welch, Ph.D., Arkansas State University System President, will become the new president and CEO of The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Jan. 15. 

The Washington D.C.-based organization, a group of 350 higher education institutions working to expand student access and opportunity, announced this change Tuesday. 

“It’s obviously a bittersweet career move for me,” Welch said in an A-State press release. “I love the ASU System and the team we’ve put together and I’m proud of our accomplishments. But this is a terrific opportunity with an organization I believe in.” 

The ASU System Board of Trustees will meet via Zoom at 1:30 p.m. today to discuss Welch’s replacement. 

Ian Buchanan, an administrative specialist III for the University Advising Center and president of the Staff Senate, said he hates to see Welch leave, but is happy for him. 

“I had a phenomenal relationship with Dr. Welch. He was very warm, very welcoming, very funny,” Buchanan said. “I hope that whoever assumes that position in the future will continue to uphold the values of the university, uphold the values of our trustees board and also uphold the spirit of camaraderie that our board has with the faculty and staff.”

Edward Salo, Ph.D., associate director of Heritage Studies, serves as Faculty Senate President. He said he enjoyed working with Welch. 

“He knew everyone. When you saw him he’d say your name, talk to you, remember things,” Salo said. “He loved being around students.” 

Buchanan said Welch has been a pillar of the ASU System and this will be a big change, mostly for staff and faculty.  

“I don’t think that there will be any type of negative effect as far as students are concerned. I think that we have great admin, faculty and staff in place to help with the transition,” he said. 

Salo said he hopes Welch’s replacement will bring positive changes to A-State. 

“Our next system president, I want them to be someone that’s definitely going to be out there getting more support for the university, telling all the great stuff we do and making sure we have what we need and what students need,” Salo said. 

Welch has been serving as president of the ASU System since 2011, in which he has hired chancellors for each of the seven campuses in the system. Welch served as the longest-tenured higher education president at Arkansas State University.

Under Welch’s leadership, the ASU System saw three campus mergers, the opening of the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine-Arkansas, the opening of the Queretaro, Mexico campus and the relocation of the ASU System office to Little Rock. Welch also helped foster the relationship between the Embassy Suites Hotel and the Red Wolf Convention Center. 

He previously served as chair of the AASCU Board of Directors from 2019-2021 and is the executive sponsor of the organization’s New Presidents Academy and Emerging Leaders Program. “I’m excited to promote the likes of AASCU member institutions like Arkansas State University and Henderson State University with this national higher education platform,” Welch said in an A-State press release.

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