Wake Forest, NC
Bachelor of Arts, English Literature; Juris Doctor
Acting Assistant Deputy Director, NC ABC Commission
Missy Phelps Welch was born and raised in Raleigh, NC. After graduating magna cum laude from North Carolina Central University and earning her Juris Doctor from NCCU Law School, she subsequently worked for a small firm in Durham and later as a Legal Aid staff attorney. At Legal Aid, she discovered her passion for public service. She assisted clients in housing cases, foreclosure matters, and obtaining disability and unemployment benefits.
Two of her most impactful cases involved housing clients. In one case, she successfully represented a disabled client in state and appellate courts in a first impression issue, which resulted in setting precedent in Housing Law (Woodridge Homes L/P v. Gregory). In the other case, she prevented a single mother of five from being evicted from public housing.
In 2015, Ms. Welch joined the NC ABC Commission as assistant counsel and prosecuted alcohol-related offenses. In 2019, she was promoted to acting assistant deputy director and oversees the Permits and Audit Divisions. She continues serving the public by assisting NC citizens in navigating the State’s three-tier alcohol system.
Ms. Welch attributes her accomplishments to the education she received at NCCU and NCCU School of Law.