AFT leader, Professor Emerita Rose Glassberg honored for lifetime service

Dr. Rose Glassberg, a lifelong educator and longtime union leader who retired from Glassboro State College in 1991 but who never really left, was recognized for more than 50 years of service to the University Sept. 5 during a luncheon in her honor.

A one-time teacher in the Philadelphia School District, Glassberg aspired to teach college English and was motivated to do so when, in November 1963, President John F. Kennedy was felled by an assassin’s bullet.

“I thought ‘life is too short. Now is the time to go for it,’” she said.

In 1964 Glassberg crossed the river to commence a college teaching career at then-Glassboro State College and, in 1972, earned her Ph.D. at Temple University.

The daughter of union members found at Glassboro State a calling to become not just the best educator she could be but to advocate on behalf of teachers and staff through a new union representing them, the G.S.C. chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.

In 1973 Glassberg, an English professor who also taught the teaching of English, was elected president of AFT Local 2373, a position she held for 18 years, and, following her retirement in 1991, led the G.S.C./Rowan University AFT Retirees chapter for 25 years more.

“Through its history, our institution has been blessed with faculty and staff who have committed their lives to its betterment but few have made as great an impact as Rose,” said Rowan President Ali Houshmand. “To many, Rose has been a friend, a colleague and a mentor and the entire Rowan community owes her a debt of gratitude.”

Even in retirement, Professor Emerita Glassberg remained committed to students, joining members of the AFT Retirees chapter in raising funds for scholarships during annual Rowan holiday parties and other events throughout the year.

“The scholarship program started in 1993 and it was small at first, supported by contributions and gift certificates from merchants,” she said following the party in Chamberlain Student Center. “They were not big awards, just $300 or $400 each, but that was $300 or $400 that students did not have to come up with. We kept raising money and the fund kept growing and we now have about a hundred thousand dollars in our kitty. This year we gave four scholarships of $750 each and hope to increase it next year to $1,000 gifts.”

The Cherry Hill resident was joined at the luncheon, the first monthly meeting of the school year of the AFT retirees chapter, by New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney; a representative of Congressman Donald Norcross; Houshmand; current AFT Local 2373 President Joe Basso; Steve Young, Executive Director of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals; former AFT Local 2373 President Karen Siefring; Provost Jim Newell, and many others.

Mary Lee Donahue, a member of the retirees chapter who taught English and communications at G.S.C./Rowan, said Glassberg continues to advocate for issues she believes in and to continually put students first. As a special gift, the committee published a collection of Glassberg’s often fiery opinion pieces, “AFTerthoughts by Rose,” from her regular column in “AFTerwords," the retirees group’s newsletter.

Donahue noted that a full sheet cake was baked for the party in Glassberg’s honor but, when it went untouched, Glassberg suggested setting it out in the Marketplace dining hall for students to enjoy.

“That’s Rose,” Donahue said. “In typical fashion she said put it out there for the students.”

Said Sweeney, who presented Glassberg with a proclamation from the State Senate honoring her service, “the women and men who decide to become teachers should be admired and respected as the leaders they are… When they are exceptional – as Rose was – they open doors to the world for their students.

“As a union leader, she fought for her teachers. As a professor, she taught future teachers. If that wasn’t enough, through the AFT retirees group she has raised thousands of dollars for scholarships. Rose Glassberg is, simply, the best of the best.”