Gene Gloeckner exemplifies what it means to be a Stalwart Ram. A Colorado State University graduate himself, having earned a M.S. in industrial science in 1977, he has advised over 70 doctoral students in the School of Education, created the Gloeckner Doctoral Award to support graduate students, chaired CSU’s Institutional Review Board, taught on Semester-at-Sea, and offered countless other contributions to CSU’s success. His wife Susan, also retired from CSU after 32 years of service.
Originally a first-generation student from East Liverpool, Ohio, Gloeckner earned his bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. A professor encouraged him to pursue a career in higher education. “I had never been west of the Mississippi,” Gloeckner recalled of his journey to Colorado for his master’s degree. “My professor was right to suggest being a professor to me. I also fell in love with CSU and the Front Range.”
Career highlights
Gloeckner notes that by far, his favorite part of his career has been advising doctoral students. “That truly is the highlight — working with so many students who have successfully completed their research, and are now deans, professors, business researchers, and leaders,” he said.
Gloeckner also was academic dean on the Semester at Sea Spring 2020 Voyage, where he oversaw hiring all faculty for the voyage and taught students from across the country as they embarked on their study abroad experience.
Another highlight for Gloeckner has been “taking the mystery out of statistics.” He has published several curriculum development texts for teacher educators, a series of statistics books, chapters, and articles on the subject. Gloeckner also takes this mission to the classroom. One of his staple course offerings has been the graduate-level quantitative research methods course, where he has helped students excel in statistics and research design.
Xia Xue, one of Gloeckner’s advisees, noted that his books and other published work on statistics have “proven invaluable to countless students, helping them in research designs and dissertations.”
Impact on students
“I love solving complex problems as a team,” Gloeckner said of his work with graduate students. This ethos is shared by his students and proteges. Skip Grieser, also an advisee of Gloeckner’s who recently successfully defended his dissertation, described Gloeckner’s impact on students: “His contributions to every one of us continue to set a high bar for us all, as a learning and sharing community. As a result, Gene’s legacy will live on directly through our own work, in how we help each other, and in how we all will help others in countless ways that Gene will never know.”
Grieser noted that Gloeckner’s approach to advising Ph.D. students is to “help students, candidates, and eventual Ph.D.’s find the joy in solving difficult problems of our organizations and our world.”
Xue shared she appreciates Gloeckner’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing students. “Dr. Gloeckner fosters a student community that supports each other, alongside himself. He invests time in understanding my goals, nurturing a supportive advising relationship. Under his mentorship, I have been empowered to pursue my dreams and position myself to make a positive impact on others,” Xue said.
Going out with a bang
During the Spring 2024 semester, Gloeckner received the Outstanding Advisor Award from the College of Health and Human Sciences and the Jack E. Cermak Advising Award from the Office of the Provost.
In his nomination materials for the CHHS Outstanding Advisor award, the School of Education Doctoral Student Committee noted, “His ability to guide students through their academic journeys with wisdom, patience, and care has been truly inspiring. He has created positive and effective advising relationships with students and a nurturing environment where knowledge is shared freely. Students are encouraged to excel not only in their academic pursuits but also become compassionate individuals.”
Memories at CSU
Gloeckner notes that some of his favorite memories are graduation ceremonies.
“Another favorite was defending my master’s thesis here and the feeling of joy walking across the Oval knowing I would graduate,” he said.
A culminating event will stand out for Gloeckner as he begins his retirement. “A group of my current and past students threw a surprise retirement party for me earlier this semester. I was totally surprised and shocked that so many came from faraway places including other countries and many states. It was a fabulous surprise honor of personal contact and love.”
The School of Education is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
