A Powerful Conversation with TSU President Glenda Baskin Glover, Ph.D., JD, CPA

Thursday, August 31, 2023 7:00 pm EST

What will the seat of power look like in the future? Angela Logan, Ph.D., St. Andre Bessette Academic Director of the Master of Nonprofit Administration Program at the Mendoza College of Business and Glenda Baskin Glover, Ph.D., JD, CPA, President of Tennessee State University sit down for a fireside chat about a new framework of business leadership. Their conversation will kick off a weekend celebration marking the first time in program history the Irish will face a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) when the Tigers make their trip to South Bend for the Irish’s 2023 home opener. This event is the first in the ThinkND series Powerful Conversations where Logan and Black women who lead organizations will discuss the importance of race, gender, and faith to the work of leadership. Powerful Conversations is co-sponsored by Mendoza College of Business, the Office of the Provost, the Office of Institutional Transformation, the Notre Dame Initiative on Race and Resilience, Notre Dame Research, and the Black Alumni of Notre Dame.

We will welcome Dr. Glover to campus on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 7:00 pm at the Smith Ballroom at the Morris in for a special in-person ThinkND evening, open to all. For those interested in joining us virtually, view the live stream on this page on the day of the event. Either way, be a part of this historic moment in Notre Dame’s story!

To register to receive emails about this event and others in the ThinkND Powerful Conversations series, please visit our registration page.

In the recent episode of the ThinkND series titled Powerful Conversations, the gathered audience had the privilege of witnessing an insightful and thought-provoking discussion with the esteemed Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, the president of Tennessee State University (TSU). This episode was the first in a series of conversations focusing on race, gender, and faith, led by Dr. Angela Logan, an associate teaching professor of Management & Organization at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and the St. Andre Bessette Academic Director of the Master of Nonprofit Administration.

Dr. Glover, a trailblazing figure in the field of education, brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conversation. As a certified public accountant, attorney, and holder of a Ph.D., CPA, and J.D., Dr. Glover has achieved remarkable success during her tenure as president of TSU. She has spearheaded enrollment growth, increased fundraising efforts, and expanded academic offerings at the university. Furthermore, her leadership in the corporate sector and on corporate boards has solidified her reputation as a transformative and influential change agent.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Glover shared personal anecdotes and insights that shed light on her journey and the challenges she has faced. Growing up as the daughter of a civil rights leader, she witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by marginalized communities. One particular incident that deeply impacted her was when she witnessed a friend’s house burning down due to the lack of fire protection assistance in their neighborhood. This experience ignited a strong desire within Dr. Glover to serve and help those in need, particularly in the realm of education.

Her upbringing, grounded in faith and prayer, played a crucial role in shaping her worldview and approach to leadership. Coming from a family with twelve ministers practicing different denominations, Dr. Glover developed a deep appreciation for the Scriptures and the strength and guidance they provide. She emphasized the power of faith and prayer, highlighting their inseparable connection.

The conversation also delved into Dr. Glover’s experiences as a woman in leadership and the challenges she has faced along the way. She recounted the difficulties of finding support while studying for the CPA exam, sharing the heartbreaking incident when her baby was found with a pillow on their head while under her husband’s care. These personal stories served as a reminder that not all journeys are smooth, and overcoming obstacles requires resilience and a strong support system.

In addition to her personal experiences, Dr. Glover discussed the challenges faced by historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the importance of Black philanthropy in supporting these institutions. She commended initiatives such as HBCU for Life, which seeks to raise awareness and funds for HBCUs. Dr. Glover proposed a fundraising campaign where the Divine Nine organizations successfully raised a million dollars in one day for HBCUs through endowments. This campaign, which raised a total of $6 million over four years, aimed to ensure the sustainability and continued impact of HBCUs.

The event was introduced by Martijn Cremers, who welcomed the audience to Powerful Conversations. This event held great significance as it preceded Notre Dame’s historic football game against Tennessee State University, marking the first time Notre Dame’s football team faced a historically black college university. Dr. Loga, served as the facilitator of the conversation.

The Powerful Conversation featuring Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover was a compelling exploration of leadership, faith, and the future of education. Dr. Glover’s remarkable accomplishments and insights inspired listeners to stand up for what is right, accept criticism as a means of growth, and embrace their identities and demographics with pride. By sharing her personal experiences and highlighting the challenges faced by HBCUs, Dr. Glover ignited a call to action for Black philanthropy and dedicated advocacy for these institutions. This episode served as a powerful reminder of the importance of powerful conversations in shaping our future.

On the Biggest Surprise about Her Career: “I think the biggest surprise is the level of non-acceptance that Black women have to endure. It’s not taught in a textbook that you won’t always be accepted. You’re going to be questioned. There’s going to be an asterisk by your name.” — Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover
On Starting the Day Right: “One of the things that I often say is, if you don’t have something to ground you, this work will grind you up. And being able to pause and reflect I often similarly, will get up in the morning, my internal alarm clock goes off at about 5:30, and so I’ll just stop, the coffee maker will go on, and it’s me, God, and the birds. And it’s a beautiful way to do it.” — Dr. Angela Logan
On the Value of Hard Work: “To work hard, work smart, and don’t let anyone outwork you.” — Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover
On The Importance of Supportive Family: “You won’t always have supportive family. I do now. I haven’t always had the support that I needed. So those are the kinds of things we don’t always tell…We don’t always tell all the story because we want it all to be pretty. And it’s not always the beautiful story. Sometimes there are some things you laugh yourself through. But you have to have some support. You have to have a support system.” — Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover
On Imposter Syndrome: “There are times even you feel like you may be in the wrong room. But you have to study to make sure you know what you’re talking about.” — Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover
On the Power of Faith: “And so I made a point to just go through the Bible, just read. And so as you read, you get strength and you get the faith that you need. It’s all based on your faith. You talk about prayer life, but it’s all based on faith. You put that faith and prayer together, you can’t go wrong.” — Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover
On Being an Ally for Black Women: “I need some accomplices and some co-conspirators who will get into some good trouble and some necessary trouble. You’re going to be in rooms that I will never be in. So it is your responsibility in that room to make sure that I not only have a seat at the table, but you back my play, because I promise you, Girl Scouts’ honor on my 20 pearls, I will not embarrass you. I just need to get, as the great Lin Manuel Miranda said, I just need to be in the room where it happens. And that, my friend, is how you become an accomplice.” — Dr. Angela Logan
On Cultivating Confidence: “Embrace and never ever be ashamed of anything about who you are. Any demographic that represents you, that’s who you are.” — Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover
On Confronting Systemic Barriers:”You have to confront it head on, but not to be antagonistic about it, but to be in a peaceful space. Make it known that you were offended by something that was said or that you felt that you’re not being fully appreciated, or you’d like to show more of what your skill set is, what you bring to the table.” — Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover
On the Future for Young Black Women: “My hope and my prayer for you…and all the girls that are coming after you is that you don’t have to fight the same battles that we have to fight. We’ve taken far too many blows for you to have to do, as the psalmist Whitney Houston sang, same script, different cast. If we can find a way to give you the resilience and the strength and the power to challenge and to speak truth to power, baby, the kids are going to be alright.” — Dr. Angela Logan