Meet AUC's Newest Trustees
Gretchen Welch, a former diplomat, and Richard A. Drucker, a partner of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, are the newest members of AUC’s Board of Trustees.
Welch has extensive experience at the senior-most levels of the U.S. government and has demonstrated significant involvement with community, nonprofit and educational institutions. She retired from U.S. Department of State in 2012 after 32 years in the Foreign Service and a career focused principally on management and operations. She served overseas in Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Kingdom, as well as in Washington, D.C. Welch currently serves on boards of several not-for-profit organizations and is a docent at Dumbarton Oaks Museum and Research Center in Washington, D.C. She graduated from Stanford University Phi Beta Kappa in 1978 with a degree in international relations and earned a postgraduate diploma with merit in Asian Art from SOAS at the University of London in 2016. She studied at The American University of Cairo’s Arabic Language Institute from 2001 to 2002.
“Our family lived in Egypt for nearly four years and during this time, I was very lucky to study Arabic at AUC,” said Welch. “We have returned to Egypt regularly since we left in 2005, and I have always seen AUC as a center of excellence, both in Egypt and the region. I'm excited to be part of this distinguished board and look forward to working to support the University.”
Commenting on Welch’s impressive qualifications, Eltoukhy said, “Gretchen Welch’s rich career and her valuable work with nonprofits gives her a unique understanding of community organizations and governments, coupled with an awareness of global trends in educational institutions.”
Drucker is a partner of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, an international law firm with more than 850 lawyers and 10 offices worldwide. He is a member of the firm’s Corporate Department and regularly represents clients in a wide variety of securities offerings, including global offerings in multiple markets. He also advises private equity firms and corporate clients in mergers and acquisition transactions. He was resident partner in Davis Polk’s Tokyo office from 1989 to 1993, opened the firm’s Hong Kong office in 1993 and was head of the firm’s Asia practice until 1998, when he returned to the New York office. He also has an active practice in the Middle East and has advised the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency for more than 30 years.
“Having travelled extensively to the Middle East for my entire career,” Drucker said, “I am truly honored to join the AUC board and to support its commitment to liberal arts education since it was founded in 1919.”
Commending Drucker’s distinguished global experience, Eltoukhy noted, “With his international exposure and notable achievements in the field of corporate law, in addition to his familiarity with the region, Drucker will offer unique insight as a member of AUC’s Board of Trustees,” said Eltoukhy.
