[2] Welch was educated in a one-room school and her family discouraged thoughts of pursuing higher learning due to her gender.

[3] However, she earned money through teaching at public schools during World War I and was able to afford tuition at DePauw University for four years.

[4] Upon her arrival at DePauw (DPU), Welch attempted to pursue chemistry but was rejected by William Blanchard based on her gender.

[2] By 1928, she earned a PhD from Indiana University,[4] where she stayed as an instructor until being offered a position at DPU as an assistant professor of botany.

[5] Welch was eventually promoted to chairman of the botany department[6] and earned a grant from the American Philosophical Society to study in Europe for a year.