By Alex Helmbrecht
Director of College Relations
CHADRON – Tracy Welsh, a veteran of higher education with more than 30 years of experience, has been named Chadron State College’s Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management, President Ron K. Patterson announced Thursday.
“I am thrilled Tracy is joining us at CSC,” Patterson said. “She brings a wealth of enrollment experience and that will pay dividends for our college, as well as our Enrollment Management department. Tracy has a proven track record of results and I know she’ll help set CSC up for success.”
Welsh, a native of Wall, South Dakota, will begin at CSC Dec. 13.
Welsh is no stranger to enrollment or admissions. She most recently served as the Director of High School Relations and Admissions at South Dakota State University from 1994 to 2018 before leaving higher education to join the private sector. Prior to being the Director of Admissions, Welsh was an Admissions Counselor and Publications Officer as well as an Assistant Director of Admissions. In all, she worked at South Dakota State University for 34 years.
While at SDSU, she supervised 26 employees and 75 student employees, and helped award approximately $1 million in funds to students. During her time as Director of Admissions, the university saw its freshmen class increase by 28 percent, an increase of more than 500 students. Beginning in 2000, the recruitment of minority students increased from 81 to 287 in the fall of 2017.
Welsh said she takes a customer service approach to prospective students and their families and works to establish connections across campus.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity and being a part of the CSC community. I love working in higher education with students and the campus community because what we do is so important,” she said. “Chadron State offers so many opportunities for students and it will be a privilege to work here to help students realize their dreams. I can’t wait to begin.”
Welsh was also involved with the North Central Conference Accreditation Committee and has served as President for the Dakota Association of College Admissions Counselors.
Patterson said that Welsh will provide leadership within the Enrollment Management division while the college conducts a national search for the permanent position. He expects that search will be concluded by late spring.