Drs. John Welty and Sharon Brown-Welty Scholarship Endowment

California Health Sciences University (CHSU) is pleased to announce the Drs. John Welty and Sharon Brown-Welty Scholarship Endowment fund has been established with an initial pledge of $50,000.

The anonymous gift and goal to increase the endowment to $500,000 was announced during a Dedication of Service Reception honoring the Welty’s at California Health Sciences University last month.  The Dedication of Service Award presented by CHSU recognizes the Welty’s for their continued efforts toward increasing access to higher education and improving the health of the Central Valley.

“We are honoring the Welty’s because they are true community champions,” stated Florence Dunn, CHSU President. “They are people who continue to envision a region teeming with opportunity, where people invest in one another and where people care about all their neighbors. More important, the Welty’s act on their vision; inspiring us and inspiring others in transformational acts of community well-being.”

After a distinguished 22 year career of service as President of Fresno State, Dr. John Welty accepted the volunteer leadership position as Chairman of the California Health Sciences University Board of Directors in 2012. In addition to CHSU, he has actively served on the California Healthcare Foundation Board since 2012.

Dr. Welty’s previous service includes past-chair of the Renaissance Group, which is a national organization of over 30 Universities dedicated to improving teacher education programs.

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Dr. Welty is also a national leader in higher education, elected to serve as Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Commissioner in 2000 and served a three year term as the WASC Commission Chair.

He co-chaired the California State University (CSU) system’s effort to create CALState Teach, an innovative program designed for emergency credentialed teachers and chaired a CSU group on preparing education leaders.

Locally, Dr. Welty was a leader in establishing the Fresno Business Council, the Central Valley Business Incubator, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, the Collaborative Regional Initiative, the Regional Jobs Initiative, the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute and several other partnerships.

Dr. Sharon Brown-Welty, Dean of CSU San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus, is an impactful leader in higher education and active board member on the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership and the Health Association Research Council and Coachella Valley Educational Partnership.

Dr. Brown-Welty is locally credited with leading the effort to establish the first Doctoral program in the California State University system and other advancements in the Kremen School of Education at Fresno State.

She is also well-known for her dedication to foster children, serving 15 years on the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Board of Directors and 6 years as Board Chair.

Her dedication to exemplary educational standards and access to higher education are also demonstrated through her support of California Health Sciences University.

“We are grateful for Dr. Welty’s leadership in reducing educational disparities and Dr. Brown-Welty’s continued support of local access to higher education,” stated Dunn. “The Welty’s service to the mission of California Health Sciences University is instrumental in establishing our university as a premier medical education institution.”

Post retirement, the Welty’s have made their permanent residence in the beautiful southern California Desert while continuing their well-established commitment to champion issues unique to the Central Valley.

For more than 40 years the Central Valley has been designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. The Drs. John Welty and Sharon Brown-Welty CHSU Scholarship Endowment fund, established in partnership with the Central Valley Community Foundation, will help remedy adverse consequences due to the shortage of health care service by providing attractive incentives for qualified students to remain in the Central Valley and become front line health care providers for the region.

“Receiving the Dedication of Service award and having the scholarship endowment fund created in our names is a tremendous honor,” said Dr. John Welty.  “We are grateful to have such wonderful friends, who are aligned with our desire to make a positive impact recognizing creativity and contributing their resources.”

With half of CHSU students emanating from the Valley, these students are very much like those at Fresno State and many are Fresno State alumni.  Several are the first in their family to attend college and most are the first to work toward a doctoral degree. CHSU students need all the support they can get to be successful.  Thank you, the endowment will make a vital difference in helping keep local talent in the Valley to pursue their personal dreams and serve the health and welfare of our community, Welty added.

About California Health Sciences University (CHSU)

Founded in 2012, CHSU was envisioned by the Assemi Family to help address the shortage of health care providers, higher educational opportunities and enhance the Central Valley economy.

CHSU offers a local option for health care professionals seeking doctoral and continuing education programs and to help remedy the shortage of health care services offered in the Central Valley. Students can enjoy the unique combination of high quality of life, affordable cost of living and plentiful career opportunities the Valley provides.

California Health Sciences University has awarded more than $500,000 during the past two academic years and will have an additional class of students – three cohorts in total – that need financial assistance and scholarships for fall 2016.

The College of Pharmacy was the first program offered because of the demand for pharmacists in the region. CHSU plans to open up to 10 post-graduate colleges to train health care professionals and is considering Allied Health, Dentistry, Podiatry, and a Medical school. The timing and specific discipline for each new school will be determined based on the need and opportunity for job placement within the region.

The fall 2017 admission cycle for the CHSU Doctor of Pharmacy program will open in July 2016. Qualified applicants will be invited to a day-long interview and top candidates will be invited to begin their professional school career at the first pharmacy school in the Central Valley.