Ms. Welch is a forensic document examiner with nearly ten years of experience in the field of Forensic Document Examination. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Hope College, Ms. Welch began an apprenticeship in Forensic Document Examination which was followed by an internship with the Michigan State Police Forensic Sciences Division, Questioned Document Unit. Ms. Welch is currently employed full time with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Forensic Laboratory as a Forensic Document Examiner where she successfully completed a two-and-a-half-year training program.

Holding to her pursuit for professional excellence, Ms. Welch obtained her certification as a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE), which is the only certifying body sponsored by the Canadian Society of Forensic Science, the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, the Southwestern Association of Forensic Document Examiners, and the Southeastern Association of Forensic Document Examiners. The ABFDE is also recognized by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the International Association for Identification, the Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists, and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists. It should be noted that the ABFDE is the only certifying body that can claim such sponsorship and recognition both nationally and internationally.

Ms. Welch is nationally active in professional development activities, and regularly attends and participates in professional meetings, workshops, and paper presentations. She is a member of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners (ASQDE) as well as the Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (MAFS) where she served on the Bylaws & Administrative Rules Committee and the Membership Committee.

In addition to these contributions, Ms. Welch has likewise presented on technical aspects of Forensic Document Examination, specifically regarding travel and identity documents. Ms. Welch has traveled to many manufacturing facilities to observe various production processes pertaining to secure document construction: rubber stamps, secure paper, optically variable devices, secure printing (offset lithography, intaglio, letterpress, screen, mass digital production, and security inks).

Ms. Welch has been accepted by federal, state, and immigration courts as an expert witness and has testified in both criminal and civil matters.