Charles L. Welch became the seventh president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) on January 15, 2024. Welch joined AASCU after serving nearly 13 years as president of the Arkansas State University System, where he led the state’s second largest higher education system. He is also past president of Henderson State University (AR).

Welch is past president of the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges and served as chairman of the board of the Arkansas Association of Public Universities. He is vice chair of the American Academic Leadership Institute Board of Directors and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. He also served on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, is a former board member for the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches, and was inducted into the Arkansas Boys State Hall of Fame.

He was co-chair of the Executive Council of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. He previously served as chancellor of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana, vice chancellor for academic affairs at Arkansas State University-Beebe, and dean of university studies at the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College. Welch also worked at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and has served as an instructor of education and political science at three different colleges in Arkansas.

Welch has deep ties to AASCU, having led two AASCU member institutions, and served as chair of the AASCU Board of Directors twice from 2019–2021. He co-chaired AASCU’s Presidential Postsecondary Value Commission Task Force. He was also actively engaged with AASCU’s New Presidents Academy and Emerging Leaders Program, serving as executive sponsor for both initiatives.

Welch is a first-generation college student and the first member of his extended family to receive an advanced degree. He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Arts in political management from The George Washington University (DC), and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Welch was awarded president emeritus status by the Arkansas State University System in December 2023. The system also honored Welch with the creation of the Charles L. Welch Presidential Scholars Program.

Suzanne Peyton, grew up in Little Rock, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech University. She is a licensed professional civil engineer and Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives, and serves as the Director of Properties, Planning & Development for Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.  She began her career with Garver in Little Rock in 1996 as an aviation project engineer and was promoted to various roles within the engineering firm as she managed planning and development projects for small, medium and large hub airport clients across the United States. At Garver, she led the formation of Connect, Garver’s employee resource and development initiative and Leadership Garver, an initiative to develop project managers and business unit leaders.  Suzanne is President of WTS Arkansas, a local chapter of WTS International, an organization that focuses on the advancement of women in the transportation industry. WTS Arkansas in the five years since it’s charter has endowed three scholarships for women pursuing careers in transportation.

Suzanne began her civic engagement through her church, Calvary in the Heights were she has served on the Building Committee for two building programs, the finance and personnel committees, the church council and several minister search committees.  She’s been active in church ministries that serve the community through sports, neighborhood support, homeless outreach, and support for seniors.  Extending that engagement into the community, Suzanne is an active member of The Rotary Club of Little Rock and participates in Rotary service to the Little Rock School District.  She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXIV, was the Co-Chair of Class XXXVIII and the Chair of Class XXXIX.  Suzanne serves on the Baptist Health Board of Trustees.  Suzanne and husband Chuck have three children, daughter Avery Zorn, a graphic designer who lives in Chicago, son John Ellis Peyton a student at UAMS and Charley Peyton who attends the University of Central Arkansas.  

Billy Roehrenbeck was born and raised in Little Rock, and he attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.   He began his career in the real estate title industry in 1993 at the age of 20 as a courier.  In 2007, he started Pulaski County Title with a few employees.   He now owns and operates Pulaski County Title, Perry County Title, Hot Springs Title, and Pine Bluff Title.    Billy is active in the American Land Title Association and the Arkansas Land Title Association.   He is Past President of the Arkansas Land Title Association and is currently the Chair of the Legislative Committee.   He is a past recipient of the Arkansas Land Title Association’s Young Title Person Award, Distinguished Service Award, and Titleman of the Year Award. 

Billy has served on the Little Rock YMCA Board of Directors, Arkansas Prostate Foundation Board of Directors, Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Initiative Board, University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business Real Estate Advisory Board, The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Foundation Fund Board, and Leadership Greater Little Rock Alumni Board.  He is also a member of Little Rock Rotary Club 99.  Billy is a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXIV, was Co-Chair of Class XXXIX, and he is currently the Chair of Class XL.   Billy and his wife, Lizzy Sullivan, have a new daughter, Rosemary Kimber.