“Go forth, and let your light shine.”
If you’ve ever passed a Sport and Spirituality or Public Speaking class, you might have heard those words from Dr. Joe Glass.
Glass has been a full-time Communication and Digital Media and Theology professor here at Neumann University for 20 years.
He is also a very prominent member of the Neumann sports community. He served as the FAR, faculty athletic representative, and as team chaplain for the Men’s Basketball team.
During the Spring semester of the 2024-2025 school year, Glass announced his retirement from teaching at Neumann. Students and faculty alike were shocked to hear the news.
However, upon the start of this school year, Glass is still teaching here at Neumann as an adjunct Theology professor for this Fall semester.
Students were surprised, yet excited to see Glass return to campus. The CDM314: Reporting for Digital Media class was excited to see Glass teaching.
Communication and Digital Media major, John Renning is currently taking Glass’ Sport and Spirituality class. Upon finding out that Glass would be teaching that course, Renning said, “I was hype, Dr. Glass is one of the greats.”
Glass states the reason why he came back to Neumann is, “I love Neumann. The students, my colleagues, it’s been great staying in touch with the Neumann community.”
While he said that retirement has been treating him wonderfully, he added, “This summer felt like any other summer, it didn’t hit me that I was retired until I came back.”
When talking about his transition from full-time to adjunct faculty, Glass said, “It’s weird not being here every day. I’m used to being here every day and having my own office, now I’m here only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
Glass teaches two Theology courses, THEO104: Foundations of Theology and THEO220: Sport and Spirituality, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
He stated that he liked this transition, “It gives me a chance to fade out instead of a hard stop.”
Along with being an adjunct professor, Glass has been taking music gigs as M.T. Glass, his musician alter ego, most of them at local retirement homes near his neighborhood.
Glass joked, “I’m more full-time M.T. Glass now.”
Whether he’s back as Dr. Glass, professor or Dr. Glass, Neumann fan, his return to Neumann has been nothing but positive.
