Changing Schools, Changing Students: Retiring UC President Edwin Welch Looks Back on 29 Years

In July 1989, Edwin Welch took over as president of the University of Charleston, a troubled school with falling enrollment. He planned to stay about five years. In those first weeks, he spoke to Dawn Miller, then a Charleston Daily Mail newsroom intern, about his plans for the school.  This month, Welch will retire after 29 years at UC. He recently sat down with Miller, now the Gazette-Mail's editorial page editor. Here is the first part of an excerpt of their conversation.