The president of Murray State is still in his first year. Our VP of finance is in her first year, too. And the new provost will begin on July 1. The JMC department is in its first year of a revised curriculum. One newly minted PhD will join the ranks of the JMC faculty this fall. And we are in the process of searching for another new faculty member, also to begin this fall. On top of all that, our administrative assistant, Misty, is relocating out of the area. So, we’re working to fill that position, too. And finally, yours truly is retiring at the end of this semester.
That’s a lot of change.
And although change brings about the excitement of new possibilities, new talent and fresh ideas, let’s be honest: Change can also bring about anxiety. Let me offer some comfort. In the midst of all the change described above we have a significant ballast.
The incoming Interim Chair of JMC has helped the department navigate change for the last 34 years. He has served under eight presidents, six provosts, six deans and six chairs. He helped when the department moved from the College of Fine Arts and Communication to the College of Business. He helped when the department moved from analogue video to digital media, and through several iterations of print technologies. He helped when the university adopted email and now, cloud computing. He has been an integral part of maintaining our ACEJMC accreditation for 6 cycles. I am describing, of course, Gill Welsch.
Gill has coordinated significant internship opportunities for dozens of students within the department and beyond. Nearly every JMC undergraduate student’s experience is bookended by Gill Welsch, as he teaches both the 100-level Transitions Course and the 400-level Senior Seminar. He is a strong advocate for students; he always considers their interests as we navigate change. And I think that is why students have a nickname for him.
He is not Dr. Welsch or Professor Welsch. Instead, students often refer to him as, “Uncle Gill.” It is said with both affection and respect. They know that he is on their side. He is the consistency that will serve the JMC department and its students through this next era of change. He is experienced and capable. He is ballast.
