In 1954, Mrs. Elaine Welch Perry graduated from Elizabeth City State Teacher’s College. Her first position as an educator was in Snow Hill, NC. It was then that she began to work with the General Alumni Association. With the help of five very active members, Elaine’s interest in working at the General Alumni level started. Members of the General Alumni Association were; Alphonso “A.C.” Crowder, Dr. J.E. Jones, Elizabeth Alston, Edna Randolph and Leola Morgan. They taught her what it meant to give back to the institution that had given her so much.

Elaine served as president of General Alumni Association for two terms. During her first term as president, she organized the Alumni Summer Workshop, now known as the National Alumni Convention. The workshop was set up to help newly elected chapter presidents get oriented to their new positions. During her second term as president, Elaine was responsible for the purchase of the Alumni House. This was a goal that was the vision of so many graduates. She is also responsible for the charter of the Raleigh-Durham-Wake Chapter which she served as president for many years.

The National Alumni Association will be forever grateful for the work Elaine has done for the association and her alma mater. The work she did as president and as a member of the Board of Directors will long be remembered. The programs she put in place will encourage and foster meaningful support for Elizabeth City State University for many years to come.

Elaine is a life member of the ECSU NAA, Inc. and Raleigh-Durham-Wake Chapter Emiratis. She is a member of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church and a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.