Tommy T. Welch, Ph.D
Dr. Tommy Welch joined the Lovett school in 2022. As a National and State recognized leader Dr. Welch has served as Gwinnett County Public Schools Chief Equity Officer. He has also, previously served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and Director of Multicultural Affairs.
Dr. Welch provides leadership to create cultures of belonging that ensure each and every child receives what they need to develop to their full academic and social potential. He facilitates the development and implementation of systemic strategies to improve service delivery, strengthen programs, and enhance engagement across the full spectrum of diverse communities.
Dr. Welch is charged with operationalizing cultural competency as he creates systems, structures, and processes that recognize value, and leverage differences in order to interact effectively and better serve students, staff, in a culture and community of belonging.
Dr. Welch collaborates with school and community leaders to develop and implement a systemic process for identifying and addressing inequities that impede student engagement and academic achievement while also maximizing opportunities for community engagement.
Dr. Welch is a graduate of the University at Buffalo, Piedmont College, and Mercer University. Dr. Welch has successfully completed the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy Certification, the University of Georgia Leader endorsement program along with completing the Institute of Urban Leaders and PELP (Public Education Leadership Program) program at Harvard University. In 2017, Dr. Welch was recognized as Georgia’s top principal by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. In 2018, he was named as one of three finalists for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)’s 2018 National Principal of the Year award. Dr. Welch holds multiple Diversity Equity and Inclusion certificates from Columbia University, Cornell University, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the National Diversity Council. Dr. Welch is grateful to lead and learn among regional Equity leaders as he is a partner in the Metro-Atlanta Equity Officer Consortium. As a National leader, Dr. Welch is also grateful to lead and learn among national equity leaders as an invited partner of the Advancing Educational Resource Equity Network and the Equity Officer Collective.
To create a life-work balance, Dr. Welch enjoys spending time with his wife Stacy, and their three children. The Welch family enjoys sports, live theater, crafts, and dance parties before bedtime.