He earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana and a B.S. in Chemistry from Bradley University, Peoria Illinois. His research and teaching interests include new teaching methods, chemical demonstrations, and promoting student understanding of the role chemistry plays in the every day life of the liberal arts student, and in particular the role chemistry plays in the production and conservation of art and cultural artifacts. While at Columbia College Chicago, Dr. Welsh has turned his attention to the links between chemistry and the arts. Over the past 9 years, he has developed and taught a course called Chemistry of Art and Color. He was the co-author of the new Art and Materials Conservation Major Program and currently serves as the program’s coordinator.