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Celebrating the Glotzbach era at 窪蹋勛圖厙

October 30, 2023
by James Helicke

窪蹋勛圖厙 faculty, administrators, trustees, and alumni celebrated the era of President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzbach 17 years of impressive achievement and growth that helped transform 窪蹋勛圖厙 into the leading liberal arts college that it is today.  

The Oct. 18 panel Celebrating the Era of Philip A. Glotzbach coincided with the 20th anniversary of Glotzbachs inauguration as president in October 2003 and capped a yearlong celebration of 窪蹋勛圖厙s College Centennial.  

The story of the Glotzbach era is also the story of the continued rise and excellence of 窪蹋勛圖厙, said President Marc Conner, who praised his predecessors deep impact on the College and emphasized his continuous kindness during a transition that occurred at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Conner called Glotzbach's tenure "one of the defining presidencies of the 21st century for liberal arts colleges."

President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzach, left, with President Marc C. Conner

President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzach, left, with President Marc C. Conner

Panelists included Suzanne Corbet Thomas 62, a life trustee; Gail Cummings-Danson, assistant vice president for student affairs and director of athletics; Karen Kellogg, professor of environmental studies and sciences and David H. Porter Chair; Nigel Smith 19, young alumni trustee; W. Scott McGraw P 12, a life trustee; and Joshua Woodfork, vice president for strategic planning and institutional diversity. 

Under President Emeritus Glotzbach, 窪蹋勛圖厙 achieved heightened visibility it moved from being on a students safe school list to being a first choice, and student applications soared, said Professor of English Emerita and former Vice President for Academic Affairs Susan Kress, who facilitated the panel.  

Many of the panelists also pointed to the crucial role played by Marie Glotzbach, who served 窪蹋勛圖厙 alongside the president emeritus; launched important community initiatives including, Saratoga Reads, Saratoga Arts Fest, and 窪蹋勛圖厙 Cares; and continues to serve 窪蹋勛圖厙 as a faculty member in 窪蹋勛圖厙s Theater Department. 

In addition to Thomas and McGraw, former board chairs Linda Toohey, Judith Pick Eissner 64, and Nancy W. Hamilton 77, as well as current board chair Jonathan P. Achenbaum 77, were among many faculty, staff, retirees, alumni, trustees, and community members who attended the event in 窪蹋勛圖厙s Gannett Auditorium, where Glotzbachs presidential portrait now hangs.  

President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzbach with students in the Glotzbach Atritum of the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences.

President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzbach with students in the Glotzbach Atrium of the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences that he played a leading role in building

During his tenure, Glotzbach oversaw major initiatives, including the transformation of 窪蹋勛圖厙s First-Year Experience program (2005), the opening of Northwoods Village (2006), construction of the 54,000-square-foot Arthur Zankel Music Center (2010), the building of Sussman Village (2013), and the launch of the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences, the largest single academic project in College history. 

窪蹋勛圖厙 also achieved record applications for admission, quadrupled its financial aid budget, and saw strong growth in admissions for domestic students of color, first-generation college students, and international students. 

Glotzbach charted the path for 窪蹋勛圖厙s future through two successful 10-year strategic plans and the two most ambitious fundraising campaigns in 窪蹋勛圖厙s history, Creative Thought Bold Promise, which concluded in 2010 by raising $216.5 million, and Creating Our Future, which raised an additional $229.4 million for 窪蹋勛圖厙.  

President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzbach with Marie Glotzbach on 窪蹋勛圖厙's campus.

President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzbach with Marie Glotzbach on 窪蹋勛圖厙's campus


With modesty, Glotzbach noted the important contributions of so many, including members of cabinet, faculty, trustees, students, and parents, in enabling 窪蹋勛圖厙's achievements during his presidency.  

As president, I think you get a lot more blame than you deserve sometimes, but you also get a lot more credit Whatever we were able to do on my watch would not have been possible without the enormous contributions of so many people, Glotzbach said, turning to Marie Glotzbach.  We were full partners for this full time. I could not have done what I did without you.  

A video made during the presidency of Philip A. Glotzbach, marking the first 15 of his 17-year tenure, was shown at the event.

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