Dr. Joan Glacken, Professor & Associate Dean, Reflects on Career at FGCU
May 20, 2020 / Dr. Joan Glacken
What year did you start at FGCU?
I began my career at FGCU on December 9, 1996 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies (now known as Health Sciences). The campus was under construction at the time and my first office was a desk in a hallway at the Barnett Bank building in Gateway. My first glimpse of campus was from a helicopter since the roads to campus were impassible for buses and cars.
What are your two proudest contributions to FGCU?
I was honored and proud to serve as Interim Dean twice. The first time was AY 2010-2011 in which I oversaw the construction of Academic Building 8 (now Marieb Hall), and the second time was from March 1, 2018 through August 29, 2019. But the best contribution was the difference I made in the lives of my students. Quite a few students went on to earn doctoral degrees and currently teach at prestigious institutions such as LSU, Weber (Utah), and Miami University (Ohio). I also am proud that quite a few of the Health Science alumni are now employed at FGCU as full-time faculty, adjunct faculty, and staff.
What will you miss most about FGCU after you retire?
The greatest bunch of people anyone could ever want to spend every day with building a fabulous university. I just want to thank everyone who made my time at FGCU an enjoyable experience.
What do you see as the future of Marieb College?
The future of Marieb College has unlimited potential. The faculty, staff, and students are more than capable of reaching any goal imaginable. Please remember that students come first, and never lose that personal touch that has made FGCU so special. I’ll be watching and smiling at all your future accomplishments. YOU CAN DO IT!
