Gwendolyn Welch

Gwendolyn Bowen Guster Welch is a retired educator and four-time chair of the Birmingham Public Library's Board of Trustees.

Welch earned a bachelor's degree in business administration at Miles College in 1969, a master's of education at UAB in 1974 and an advanced certificate in education at UAB in 1976.

Welch began her career with Birmingham City Schools in 1975 as a school librarian, and worked at Arthur Elementary School, Glen Iris Elementary School, EPIC School and Curry Elementary School. Later she moved to the central office as an attendance/hearing officer, and later as executive assistant to the Superintendent of Schools. From 2000 to 2008 she served as a Mayor's Education Liaison.

She has volunteered as a Cub Scout den leader, and with the Literacy Council of Central Alabama. She is married to Arthur Welch and has one son, attorney Eric Guster.

Welch was presented with the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations' "Trustee Citation Award" in 2012 and was inducted into the Birmingham Gallery of Distinguished Citizens by the Birmingham City Council in 2017.

After Lashunda Scales left her City Council seat vacant to be sworn into the Jefferson County Commission, she applied to be appointed by the Council to fill her seat.