Milton D. Glick

Glick, Milton D.
passed away on April 16, 2011. Milton D. Glick, loving husband, father and grandfather, 15th president of the University of Nevada, Reno and nationally respected figure in higher education whose academic career spanned more than 50 years, passed away in Reno on April 16, 2011. He was 73. Dr. Glick was born in Memphis, Tenn., on July 30, 1937, to parents Lewis Glick and Sylvia Kleinman Glick. He married Peggy Porter on June 22, 1965, following a long courtship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., where the two had met while Dr. Glick was pursuing his doctorate degree in chemistry and Peggy was pursuing her degree in mathematics. The couple had two children. Son David was born on June 6, 1970. Son Sandy was born on Dec. 13, 1971. David resides in Seattle, Wash., is married to Jennifer and has two children, sons Toby and Elijah. Sandy resides in Vienna, Va., is married to Laura Pennycuff and has one child, daughter Nina. Of all the accomplishments in his life, Dr. Glick said he was most proud of his family. He noted that Peggy had been a high school mathematics teacher, earned her master's degree in economics and had worked as a financial analyst while raising two sons who were bright, talented and compassionate toward their families and others. Dr. Glick grew up in Rock Island, Ill., part of the "Quad Cities" area along the Illinois-Iowa border. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Augustana College in Rock Island in 1959. He earned his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., in 1965. Following two years of post-doctoral studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., Dr. Glick joined the chemistry faculty at Wayne State University in Detroit. He remained at Wayne State for 17 years. During this time he became a leader of the Faculty Senate, and during his final five years there served as chair of the Department of Chemistry. In the initial phase of his academic career, Dr. Glick was a noted researcher in the field of X-ray crystallography. His work was funded for 15 consecutive years by the National Science Foundation, and he published 99 research articles during this time. Dr. Glick's first senior administrative position was dean of the College of Arts and Science at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., from 1983-88. As Missouri's dean of the College of Arts and Science, Dr. Glick was responsible for many advances, including a writing-across-the-curriculum program that became a model for other universities. He then spent three years, 1988-91, as provost at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, serving as interim president of Iowa State for the final eight months. Dr. Glick served 15 years as executive vice president and provost at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. During his tenure at Arizona State-first as senior vice president and, later, as executive vice president and provost-Arizona State experienced unprecedented success, enjoying a 20-percent improvement in its freshman retention rate, a 15-percent improvement in its graduation rate and a doubling of the number of minorities enrolled. The Tempe campus became the largest in the United States in terms of enrollment, and the number of National Merit Scholars rose from about a dozen to more than 500. Funding for sponsored research tripled, and ASU recruited 10 faculty with prestigious national academy memberships, and one Nobel Laureate. Said ASU President Michael Crow: "Milt Glick was one of America's great educators. He fought his entire career for all to have access to a great university and lived his life for that purpose. He helped ASU to achieve that goal with 15 years of service and leadership and we are of greater service because of his leadership, intellect and drive." Dr. Glick was appointed president of the University of Nevada, Reno in May 2006 and took office in August 2006. During his five-year tenure as president of the state of Nevada's oldest institution of higher learning, Dr. Glick led the campus to historic institutional and reputational milestones in areas ranging from student success to campus expansion to research capacity. Under Dr. Glick's direction, the University of Nevada, Reno increased its number of National Merit Scholars from a handful to 38 during the 2010-2011 academic year-a record for the state of Nevada. For these efforts, the University was named a prestigious National Merits Scholarship Sponsor School. In 2010-2011, the University set all-time records for enrollment and graduation. In addition, freshman retention rates reached 80 percent, also an institutional record. In fall 2010, for the first time in the University's history, the institution was named a Tier I school in U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings. Dr. Glick stressed the value of creating a "sticky campus"-a dynamic campus setting where both the student body and the community are engaged and excited - and with the opening of key buildings such as the Joe Crowley Student Union, Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center, the Center for Molecular Medicine and the Davidson Mathematics and Science Building, he was able to markedly strengthen the connection between the campus and the community it serves. Said Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Klaich: "Milt was an outstanding leader and has left an indelible mark on the University of Nevada, Reno and the state. Milt had a wonderful sense of humor and an engaging, enthusiastic style. He poured his energy and his love of life and education into the University and our state, and that commitment should long be a source of pride and gratitude for all Nevadans." Added U.S. Sen. Harry Reid: "(Dr. Glick) was a breath of fresh air on campus with his trademark hat and great sense of humor. He was loved by faculty and students alike. Milt fostered a culture of excellence at the University by increasing graduation rates, growing the school's capacity as a research university and building a more diverse student body by opening the doors to a college education for more Nevada students. Dr. Glick was a renowned scientist, teacher and leader, and Nevada will miss him dearly." In addition to his body of work as an administrator, researcher and teacher, Dr. Glick was also a nationally prominent figure in the use of technology in public higher education. He was a technology consultant and senior fellow of the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, and presented often on the roles and implications of information technology in higher education. Dr. Glick was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Sylvia, and brother, Barry. In lieu of flowers, Dr. Glick's family requests that donations be made to the Dr. Milton D. Glick Memorial, University of Nevada, Reno Foundation, Mail Stop 0162, Reno, NV 89557. Condolences to the family may be mailed to this address or, to post remembrances and condolences, visit: http://www.unr.edu/in-memoriam/.