After completing his education in California and New York, and teaching at the University of San Diego, Glenn Barnett wasn’t sure what to expect when he moved to Iowa. “I was kind of scared because I’d never really lived in the Midwest,” he said. “But when I got here I really liked the people.”
Barnett, associate professor of biochemistry, wanted to teach at a small liberal arts college, and Central offered that opportunity, along with the chance to teach abroad. When researching the college, Barnett was impressed by Central’s study abroad programs.
“I particularly liked the fact that faculty (and their families) were encouraged to participate as well. The programs were an important part of my decision to come to Central,” Barnett said. He spent two semesters teaching in Merida, accompanied by his wife and daughter. “The last time we were there, my daughter spent a semester as a student in a Mexican high school. I often think about how lucky my family was to spend that time living and travelling in the Yucatan,” he said.
Barnett began his educational journey with a Bachelor of Arts in biology and chemistry from California State University in 1979. He then completed a Master of Science and Ph.D. in nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University. After a postdoctoral fellowship in genetics at the University of California at Irvine and a stint as an instructor at the University of San Diego, Barnett arrived at Central in 1993.
During his tenure at Central, Barnett has always valued his connections with the students. “I’m an introvert,” he said. “Teaching provides a structured setting in which I can interact with students.” He especially enjoys teaching in the lab where “you can talk to students and get to know them.” He said that in classes like General Chemistry, which includes many first-years, a little bit of interaction can make a big difference in how they approach college.
Louise Zaffiro, professor emerita of chemistry, calls Barnett “a conscientious and caring teacher. He spends countless hours preparing for his labs and conducts them with incomparable patience. His students are lucky to have studied under him. From my personal perspective, Glenn was an invaluable colleague. I could always rely on him for support as we shared teaching General Chemistry for many years. ”
Barnett has served as chair of the biology and chemistry departments and has served as an adviser to many pre-health programs. He counts his time as biology chair as one of his favorite accomplishments at Central. Through an altered approach to hiring faculty, the department was able to reduce turnover. “We changed our approach to hiring and chose people who were not only very well qualified but also committed to being at Central,” Barnett said.
Barnett also looks with satisfaction at the accomplishments of his students. He enjoys living in Pella because the community is full of former students doing well. “There are lots of Central grads—vets, doctors, dentists—it’s wonderful to see and continue to interact with former students who are succeeding in their goals,” he said. “Thomas Jefferson said that one of the great gifts in life is to be able to work hard at work worth doing. I feel very lucky in that regard.”
In retirement, Barnett is looking forward to spending more time at his house on Whidbey Island in Washington. He’ll watch whales and go crabbing and fishing. He said, “It’s a beautiful view of Puget Sound out the window with a backdrop of the snow-covered Olympic Mountains.”
