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Bradley names its first female president

Posted August 06, 2007 11:00 pm

Clare Jellick

With arms outstretched and tears welling in her eyes, Joanne Glasser accepted a standing ovation Tuesday that welcomed her into Bradley University's presidency.

"My cup runneth over," Glasser said at a news conference attended by about 150 people where she was announced as the institution's next leader. "I stand before you today as only the newest link in a chain of educational excellence that has served this wonderful community and state so well in the past 110 years."

Glasser, 56, tendered her resignation as president of Eastern Kentucky University earlier that morning.

She is Bradley's 10th president and its first female president. At the news conference, heavy comparisons were drawn between Glasser and university founder Lydia Moss Bradley.

"We sought a visionary thinker who would not just carry on but rather enhance the legacy of Lydia Moss Bradley," said Gerald Shaheen, chairman of the presidential search committee. "So it's most appropriate in this, the 110th anniversary year of a university founded by a woman, that its president would also be a woman. A woman with the background, a woman with the experience, a woman with the principles to make Mrs. Bradley proud."

Shaheen would not share terms of Glasser's contract.

Glasser has been in Peoria for the past several days, touring the city and Bradley's campus and meeting with members of the Bradley and Peoria community. While she was only called a candidate until today's announcement, insiders had expected her to be named.

David Broski officially vacated the post at the end of June.

Bradley's first female president said she will start off in her post by doing a lot of learning and listening.

"I promise all of you this: I will work day and night to earn your respect, your faith and your trust, and I will do so through the very simple but oftentimes lost and forgotten art of listening," she said.

She said her approach to decision-making is one of consensus gathering.

"Basically my philosophy is that if you have a stake in the outcome, you deserve a part of the process. It will be our vision, our collective vision that carries Bradley University forward."

Glasser also was Eastern Kentucky's first female president, sitting in the position since 2001. Prior to that, she served as executive vice president of institutional advancement at Towson University in Maryland. She also served as vice president for institutional advancement and as executive assistant to the president of Towson.

She was a finalist for the president job at Illinois State University in 2004, but she withdrew her name from consideration. That cleared the way for Al Bowman, who had been interim president since June 2003, to be officially named the 17th president of the school.

In a 15-minute speech Tuesday, Glasser expressed her commitment to fostering cultural diversity, providing support to faculty, connecting with alumni, raising money and advancing academics and intercollegiate athletics.

She quoted legendary professional football coach Vince Lombardi as saying "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence."

"If we keep chasing perfection at Bradley University as you have done for the past 100 years, I promise you we will catch excellence," Glasser said.

Bradley is in the silent phase of an effort to raise more than $100 million for a 15-year expansion plan, and Glasser has experience that should come in handy. She said she successfully started new capital campaigns at both Eastern Kentucky and Towson.

"At Bradley (private support) is indeed our life blood, and I will treat it like such," she said.

She made it clear that she will be a very visible figure on campus, attending events and sports games.

"You will soon learn that I will be the Braves' Number 1 fan booster and supporter. … You will find me a very permanent fixture at all home and soon to be away games," Glasser said.

She said one of the first things on her to-do list is to buy a wardrobe in red and white.

Glasser closed by saying: "I leave you all today with two words, two words that undoubtedly I will be speaking for the days and months and hopefully many, many, many years ahead. 'Go Braves!'"

Clare Jellick can be reached at 686-3112 or cjellick@pjstar.com.

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