Winona Hazel Welch

Winona Hazel Welch (May 5, 1896 – January 16, 1990) was an American bryologist. As a professor at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, she became the first female head of the botany and bacteriology department.

Early life Welch was born on May 5, 1896, in Goodland, Indiana, to parents Charles A. and Carrie Johnson Welch. Prior to her birth, her grandfather immigrated to America from England and bought land in Indiana prior to the American Civil War. After his death, some of his mementos were donated to the Indiana State Museum. Welch was educated in a one-room school and her family discouraged thoughts of pursuing higher learning due to her gender. 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.

Education and career Upon her arrival at DePauw (DPU), Welch attempted to pursue chemistry but was rejected by William Blanchard based on her gender. Welch was eventually promoted to chairman of the botany department and earned a grant from the American Philosophical Society to study in Europe for a year. By 1940, she was elected secretary of the Indiana Academy of Science and promoted to Full professor. Upon Yuncker's retirement in 1956, Welch was selected as the new department head of Botany and Bacteriology. During her time as head, Welch published a comprehensive manual of moss in Indiana, titled "Mosses of Indiana." This manual was the result of a research project she had done relating to bryophytes; it was an accompaniment to Charles Deam's "Flora of Indiana." In 1964, she became the inaugural winner of the Outstanding Woman Teacher award at DPU.

In 1987, a new moss species was named in her honor, Fontinalis welchiana. She died on January 16, 1990.