By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

 

melissa glenn headshot 2025

SUNY Broome is delighted to announce that Associate Professor of Biology Melissa Glenn has been selected to represent the College in the State University of New York’s (SUNY) Accessibility Advocates & Allies (AAA) Faculty Fellowship program. As one of 11 AAA fellows, Glenn and her colleagues will collaborate to develop new strategies for incorporating accessibility practices into every facet of the student experience. 

Glenn began her SUNY Broome career in 2007 as an adjunct instructor in the Biology Department. She became an Assistant Professor in 2011 and was promoted to Associate Professor shortly thereafter in 2015. 

Professor Glenn was nominated for the fellowship by Dr. Tracy Curtis, Chairperson of the Biology Department, and Dr. Penny Kelly, Vice President for Academic Affairs. 

“We are all thrilled for Melissa and wholeheartedly commend her desire to place accessibility at the forefront of her pedagogy,” Dr. Kelly said. “Our campus community is excited to benefit from the inclusive practices developed by Glenn and her SUNY AAA counterparts.”

Glenn has always been drawn to empowering students through inclusive learning. Throughout her career, she has centered her professional development efforts on academic accessibility, specifically through developing course content and curriculum through the lens of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. She sees her connection to SUNY’s Accessibility Advocates & Allies (AAA) Faculty Fellowship program as both a calling and an honor. 

“I am excited to work with the other SUNY AAA Fellows, as we each bring diverse experiences from many academic disciplines and campuses,” Glenn said. “I have already learned so much during our kick-off event in Albany. I’m energized by new ideas to make SUNY Broome a welcoming and supportive environment for all students.”

While Professor Glenn is looking forward to sharing best practices with campuses across the SUNY system, she is equally enthusiastic about connecting with her fellow SUNY Broome colleagues. 

“Feedback from faculty and staff is invaluable in addressing accessibility issues on our campus. As a community, we can significantly impact our students’ success. This might mean considering new ways to support our students,” Glenn explained. “While change can be challenging if we all approach it with an open mind and step out of our comfort zones, we can create a more inclusive environment for our students and community.”

Learn more about SUNY’s Accessibility Advocates & Allies Faculty Fellowship Program. 

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