For the last 17 years at Neumann University, he has been known as a professor of communication and theology, a member of various committees, and chaplain of the men's basketball team, but he has a secret identity. He is a jazz-loving professional musician and ham radio operator. In fact, he has been involved in both hobbies for over forty-eight years.
Dr. Joseph (Joe) Glass, also known as “M.T Glass,” grew up in North Jersey, and now resides in South Jersey (where he unfortunately calls the sandwich meat, Pork Roll) always had a fascination with sounds, and one year as a Christmas gift when he was a little boy, his mother bought him an Emenee organ. Glass described his younger self as being “ear dominant” and was able to use his God given talent as a way to create his own music. He would play on his organ for hours and sometimes so long that his mom would have to ask him to stop to do his homework and eat dinner.
The sounds that instruments make will always be at the top of his list when talking about what he loves, which is why he plays a melodica in his spare time. Several musicians, like “M.T. Glass,” use this one-of-a-kind instrument that looks like an accordion but plays like a harmonica because of its uniqueness and ability to transport on the go.
A young Joe before he was M.T. was also addicted and still is to his Ham Radio. No, it is not edible like Taylor Ham from New Jersey or the chipped ham from Pittsburgh, but it is still worth checking out. Glass put his mini amateur radio under his bed and listened to his favorite on-air personality, Jean Shepard.
We might not know his name, but we all know his voice. Jean Shepard was an iconic voice heard around the globe as he told short stories and jokes on his K2ORS dial signal on late-night AM Ham Radio. One of his most well-known stories was about his life. He ended up narrating and making a slight cameo in the film version of the story, the beloved movie, A Christmas Story.
Inspired by his childhood idol, Glass started his own call sign, N2HBP, and worked with Catholic radio where he talked about his life, his faith, and even played his own music under his stage name, M.T. Glass. Nowadays, he might not be on your ham radio, but he is on 98.5 WNUW-LP Aston and the NeuMedia app every Tuesday from noon to one in his very own show, “That’s Jazz with Dr. Glass,” where he plays his hand-picked selection of top jazz hits as well as his songs, too.
From his teaching to his experience working in various roles, to creating music, to cheering on the Neumann University sports teams, to embracing his faith around everyone he sees, Dr. Joe Glass is someone who always makes a positive impact on your day.
Dr. “M.T.” Glass puts his own personal twist into everything he does, and the students love him as a professor. In fact, Neumann University communications student, Logan Fogerty, told me that “any Joe Glass class is a great class,” and I could not agree more.
Dr. Glass loves to share stories about his experience doing what he loves and wants everyone to think about this when interacting with others: “Who am I? Who are you? There is always something unique about everyone.”