Glenn promotes LU ROTC in coordinator role

Kristin Glenn poses in her Lincoln University Blue Tiger ROTC office. In her role as coordinator, she has recently taken on additional responsibilities to help students or those who want to be an ROTC cadet.
Kristin Glenn poses in her Lincoln University Blue Tiger ROTC office. In her role as coordinator, she has recently taken on additional responsibilities to help students or those who want to be an ROTC cadet.

The Lincoln University ROTC department was a second home for Kristin Glenn, as she grew up with her mom working there as an administrative assistant.

Then, 16 years ago, Glenn took a job as secretary in the department while she attended classes at the university. She earned an associate's degree in administrative office management and a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Her mother retired last year. In addition to absorbing some of those duties, due to a federal hiring freeze, Glenn recently became the point person on campus for veterans and servicemembers, as well as the ROTC cadets.

The Blue Tiger ROTC program has about 35 cadets at any one time. One of Glenn's responsibilities is to help ensure they graduate on time to fulfill their contract with the U.S. Army.

Glenn also serves as the program's community liaison. She coordinates events for the color guard, which they would like to do more often, she said.

And she is the advisor for the military fraternity and sorority, the Pershing Rifles and the Pershing Angels, which focus on precision drill.

She hopes to increase the community's knowledge about the university's ROTC program, including its history that goes back to 1950.

Glenn said the program helps young students grow as citizens, get to know smaller communities and gain respect from a community for doing something important.

She enjoys keeping up with alumni of the program, too, through social media and the annual newsletter.

As the GI Bill certified official, she can help servicemembers and veterans on campus receive their benefits, Glenn said.

About 70 students use GI Bill benefits in a given semester at the local campus, as well as at Fort Leonard Wood.

About 20 receive tuition assistance per semester.

Before the university's restructuring, students might need to visit three or four different offices to process all of their possible benefits.

"It made more sense to have one location," Glenn said.

The ROTC building's lounge and computer lab also now are available to campus veterans and servicemembers.

Because most ROTC cadets are not local, Glenn said she tries to create a sense of home at the ROTC building and make herself available to the cadets.

"They need somebody when they're away from home," she said.

Now married to a soldier in the U.S. Army Reserve, Glenn said she tries to treat cadets, veterans and servicemembers the way she would want her husband, Travis, treated.

"We'll find the best way to serve our students," she said.