People Within Reach spotlights the staff whose work supports candidates, strengthens partnerships, and advances Reach University's mission.
Two Decades in Adult Education Led Her Here
Metoka Welch holds a doctorate in counseling and counselor education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Wake Forest University, and two undergraduate degrees in English and psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill. A licensed mental health counselor, she spent more than two decades building graduate programs at organizations such as Walden University and Southern New Hampshire University, among others, before joining Reach. Behind an impressive résumé is a guiding question: What does it take to truly see and help a person grow?
Welch knows what it means to have someone see her potential and name it out loud. During her master's program, after a presentation, her professor, Dr. Simington, told her she needed to pursue her doctorate. She had considered it, but his encouragement named her potential. In the following months, Dr. Simington became her first mentor, helping her think through the next steps. "I carry that moment with me," she said. "It reminds me what it means to truly see a student."
Now, as leader of the Apprenticeship College of Health, Welch carries the belief that the right person, at the right moment, can change someone's life. Before Reach, Welch worked with adult learners already actively serving their communities. Her counselor training balanced coursework with hands-on practice, an approach that stuck. She joined Reach because its model aligned with her belief: work-based learning and formal degrees can coexist.
Building the Apprenticeship College of Health
Welch is finalizing details for ACH's start by preparing candidate orientation, creating a new faculty orientation for Professors of Practice, and meeting twice a week with the ACHIEVE team, a partnership between Reach and the Training Fund. Simultaneously, she is building stackable Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts programs on top of the Associate of Arts to create a full healthcare career pathway. "It is so cool to pull these puzzle pieces together," she said, "and to consider certificates and specializations as add-ons." For Welch, centering the learner in every decision is paramount, with colleges, employers, and communities working towards a shared goal. True partnership keeps candidates’ experiences at the forefront, a standard integral to ACH’s design and operations.
Who ACH is Built For
What grounds her is who ACH serves: working adults pursuing careers in substance use disorder services, many of whom have personal connections to the work. "Many carry personal experience with substance use disorders," Welch said, "so this work is more than a professional pathway: it's a calling."
That framing matters. The people walking into ACH aren't just looking for a credential — they're looking for a program that takes them seriously. Building something that does that for candidates who have often been underserved by traditional higher education seems to be a common theme throughout her career. She's also clear that none of this happens alone. ACH was built through genuine cross-functional collaboration among Reach, the Training Fund, employer partners, and the communities from which these candidates come. For Welch, growing and succeeding together isn’t just a value, but the operating model—a way of life.
Turning Jobs into Healthcare Degrees, One Candidate at a Time
For Welch, success isn’t about metrics but about the ripple effect: candidates earn healthcare apprenticeship degrees, step into professional roles, and bring something real to the communities that need it most. "That’s what getting it right looks like."Welch is already planning for ACH’s sustainability and growth beyond launch. In five years, she hopes candidates will say their degree was just the beginning—that they're debt-free, doing meaningful work, strengthening communities, and, like her, were truly seen. Long-term vision while managing a live launch is what owning the work and outcome looks like. "This position keeps me smiling and busy," Metoka says with a grin.