California State University, Fresno President John D. Welty will receive the Doctorate of Humane Letters from his alma mater at Western Illinois University’s (WIU) spring commencement on May 15 in Macomb, Ill.

The honorary doctorate, the university’s highest award, recognizes Welty’s “significant contributions to his career and to Western Illinois University.”

Welty, a 1965 WIU graduate, has been president of Fresno State since July 29, 1991. He also is a professor in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development.

During Welty’s tenure, Fresno State has completed a major planning effort, expanded minority enrollment, created the Smittcamp Family Honors College and won national recognition for service learning and expanded community service. Fresno state also has launched academic programs and institutes and constructed $404.3 million in facilities, including the Henry Madden Library.

“Dr. Welty’s contributions and dedication to higher education and his outstanding support of Western Illinois University are to be commended. It is with great pride that we bestow upon Dr. Welty WIU’s honorary doctorate,” said university President Al Goldfarb.

“I am humbled by receiving this award from Western Illinois University,” Welty said. “I remember when I came to campus. I was the first in my family to go to college and I wasn’t ready for how big it was and how much competition there was from other students.

“I had to work hard and then I was fortunate that my dorm adviser got me to apply for a resident assistant position,” Welty said. “I enjoyed the work so much that I considered going into college student affairs as my profession. That decision led to graduate school and the rest is history.”

He received his master’s in College Student Personnel Services from Michigan State University, where he was an assistant vice president for student affairs. His doctorate in Administration of Higher Education was awarded by Indiana University, Bloomington. He came to Fresno State after seven years as president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

“It is especially appropriate to honor a Western Illinois University graduate who has had such a productive and meaningful career in higher education,” said WIU Provost Jack Thomas.

Welty has participated in the California State University system’s major strategic planning efforts and in creating the Voluntary System of Accountability, adopted by more than 200 colleges and universities. Welty has served on several advisory groups to the U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture and is past-chair of the Renaissance Group, a national organization of universities dedicated to improved teacher education programs.

He co-chaired the CSU’s effort to create CALState Teach, an innovative program for emergency credentialed teachers; chaired a CSU group on preparing educational leaders; chairs the CSU Gender Equity Monitoring Committee; and is on the executive board of the Central California Campus Compact. Welty has chaired three national conferences on substance abuse and prevention and the CSU review of alcohol policies and programs.

He was elected commissioner of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in 2000 and served a three-year term as the commission chair. Welty is a past board chair of the American Humanics Inc., American Association of State Colleges and Universities and Western Athletic Conference.

He was a member of the NCAA board executive committee and the special NCAA Task Force on the Future of Intercollegiate Athletics.

In the Central California region served by Fresno State, Welty helped establish the Fresno Business Council, Central Valley Business Incubator, Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, Collaborative Regional Initiative, Regional Jobs Initiative and several other partnerships.

Welty has received numerous awards from national, state and local organizations.

Welty and his wife, Dr. Sharon Brown-Welty, have five children and three grandchildren.