Robert E. Glennen, Jr., former Emporia State president, died on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a result of complications after a fall. Glennen was 82 years old.
Glennen was born on March 31, 1933 near Omaha, Nebraska to Robert. E. Glennen, Sr. and Laverda Elledge Glenne.
He earned a doctor of philosophy degree in counseling from the University of Notre Dame, a bachelor of arts degree in languages and an master of education degree in Educational Administration from the University of Portland.
Glennen was an associate dean at the University of Notre Dame, moved on to become the acting president, vice president and dean at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and eventually served as the president of both Western New Mexico University (1980-1984) and ESU (1984-1997), where Glennen then retired.
After retirement, Glennen served as the interim President at the Colorado State University-Pueblo (then University of Southern Colorado) from 2001-2002. He also served as Assistant to the Bishop for the Archdiocese of Yakama from 2006-2009.
While at ESU, Glennen was faced with difficult times. Glennen followed Daring to Excel as his administrations theme when faced with a $1.1 million budget cut, declining enrollment and the threat of the institution closing. By the end of Glennen’s presidency, the university was financially sound and had a reputation of a leader in teacher education reform and student retention. Glennen was also involved in the founding of the National Teachers Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, Mary, his eight children, Maureen, Glennen, Robert E. Glennen, III, Mary Colleen Glennen Betts (M. Dean), William O’Brien Glennen (Christiana), Barry Glennen (Debbie), Katie Glennen, Molly Glennen Singleton (Joseph) and Kerry Glennen Williams (Jason); Ten grandchildren, Abby Glennen, Ian Glennen, Josiah Glennen, Hannah Glennen, Rachel Glennen, Lucy Glennen, Eva Glennen, Ellery Singleton and Evelyn Singleton, Calli Wolf and Keegan Wolf.
A mass and memorial service was held on Dec. 7 at the St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Church, in Las Vegas.
