Despite retirement in July, Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., continues to receive accolades for her community involvement as president of East Stroudsburg University from July 2012 through 2020.

Former President Welsh will earn ICON honors, “recognizing the Greater Lehigh Valley’s business leaders over the age of 60 for her notable success and demonstration of strong leadership, both within and outside her chosen field.”

As one of 17 ICON honorees for 2020, Welsh will be recognized by Lehigh Valley Business in a virtual awards celebration on Nov. 5.

According to Cathy Hirko, associate publisher and editorial director of Lehigh Valley Business, Central Penn Parent and Central Penn Business Journal, “Winners were selected for long-standing commitment to the Greater Lehigh Valley’s business community and significant professional accomplishments through innovation and leadership.”

“I am proud to be recognized with ICON honors for my term as president of East Stroudsburg University,” Dr. Welsh said.

“My time as an ESU Warrior will always be the highlight of my career, knowing I was able to work in support of our students, faculty, staff and our community.”

ESU’s many accomplishments under Dr. Welsh’s leadership include: the addition of 3D printing and additive manufacturing to the curriculum; the institution of two new sports to ESU athletics, women’s wrestling and acrobatics and tumbling; building a good neighbor program within the East Stroudsburg community which enabled administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni, police and borough leadership to more closely connect to local residents and neighbors; supporting the incorporation of esports in the University’s academic research; the approval for ESU’s two doctoral degrees (in Educational Leadership and Administration and Health Sciences).

She was instrumental in opening the institution’s Lehigh Valley Center in Bethlehem; helped to unveil the Philadelphia Multi-University Center; established collaborative degree programs with The Commonwealth Medical College and Marywood University and the College of Sport and Health Science at Ritsumeikan University in Shiga, Japan.

Welsh initiated ESU’s annual Economic Outlook Summit to raise awareness of the economic development initiatives underway in Monroe County and launched a new website, Made in the Poconos, in cooperation with the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Pennsylvania CareerLink and the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation to promote and encourage residents and visitors to shop locally.

Welsh also supported a partnership with Pocono Medical Center to train ESU student volunteers to act as health coaches for patients in the Pocono community; ESU’s hosting of the International European Union Simulation (EUROSIM) which brought students from nearly 20 universities in Europe and the U.S. to ESU for political role-playing at its highest level; and the university’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program to assist veterans with tuition costs. She led the campus community through two strategic planning processes that resulted in ESU’s plans - Students First: Innovate ESU, and Students First: Empowering Innovation through Collaboration 2017-2020.

During her presidency at ESU, Welsh was selected as one of the Top 25 Women in Business by the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal and as one of the Top 25 Women of Influence in the Greater Lehigh Valley with special recognition in the Community Achievement Award category by Lehigh Valley Business.

She was also recognized with the Athena Award by the Greater Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce for her business and professional accomplishments, community service and mentoring of others, especially encouraging women to achieve their own leadership potential. In 2019, she was also named one of the Top 10 Influential Executives on Social Media by Campus Sonar, and she was the only woman to make this list.