Joanne Glasser

Joanne Glasser (1950 or 1951 – June 22, 2026) was an American educator who was the president of Bradley University as well as Eastern Kentucky University. She was the first female president at both institutions and led successful capital campaigns for the universities.

Early life Glasser grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where she used to see the Orioles play baseball with her father, which fostered her love for sports. Glasser was a cheerleader in her youth, as there were not many athletic opportunities for women. She had wanted to be a lawyer after reading To Kill a Mockingbird in school. While she was in high school, she worked for the Baltimore News-American. She went to college at George Washington University and received a political science degree, then went to law school at the University of Maryland School of Law to earn her juris doctor. She also received an Educational Management certificate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Career After law school, she worked as an assistant county attorney, which led to her being Labor Commissioner for Baltimore County from 1980 to 1986. She took time off work to take care of her family and husband, who suffered a stroke. Glasser had a daughter who graduated from Duke University and a son who works as a graphic artist. She discovered her love for working in higher education and with students through her time at Towson and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU).

Bradley University Glasser became the president of Bradley University in August 2007. Glasser oversaw the capital campaign for Bradley University exceeding $150 million. She also oversaw the endowments for the engineering, chemistry, entrepreneurship, and sports communications departments. In 2014, Glasser was reported to be the highest-paid university president compared to similar universities. She was paid $618,436 based on 2012 reports. She described how she hopes she was a comfort to the hurting people on her first day being president, which was also the funeral of Danny Dahlquist, who had passed as the result of a fireworks-related accident inside his house, which was caused by others in an instance of alcohol misuse. She conducted the building of a committee for a Comprehensive Alcohol Action Plan to put effort into giving students needed alcohol education. Glasser wanted to be remembered as a president who worked for student engagement and success.