Dr. Welker, professor of Education, teaches courses in high school curriculum and instruction, and the philosophy and sociology of education. He has been involved in collaborative school reform efforts and helped found the Center for Professional Development and the Springfield-Wittenberg Teacher Institute. He currently serves as Director of Program Approval, a position that oversees the university’s teacher preparation accreditation. He works on school partnerships as the Director of Wittenberg’s new Center for Educational Innovation.

He has published on topics related to issues of professionalism and professional identity. He also does research on social issues as they affect the schools including youth violence and character education. His The Teachers as Expert: A Sociological and Historical Critique was published in 1993 and won the "Critics Choice Award" as one of the top three books published in the field for that year. He works in the area of service learning and is one of the founding members of Youth as Resources, a grant-giving organization for youth providing service to the community.

Contact Information:

• rwelker@wittenberg.edu