Glenn Makes Music in Bond Hall Lab

Dr. Chance Glenn isn’t your typical engineering professor. This holiday season, he’s added a surprising twist to his already impressive resume - the release of a Christmas album, recorded in his engineering laboratory on campus. Titled “A Christmas Gift,” the album is available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. For those unfamiliar with Glenn’s background, this might come as a surprise, but music has always been a part of his life.

“In 1999, I released my first CD, ‘The Praise Project – First Fruits,’” Glenn recalls. “That CD was nominated for a Grammy in 2000 for Best New Artist in the Contemporary Christian Music category. I released another CD, ‘Jesus is Faithful,’ in 2005. That was the last serious music I recorded.”

After his early musical achievements, Glenn shifted focus to academia and engineering. Holding a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Glenn has built an illustrious career. He has served as Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences at Alabama A&M and is currently on sabbatical from his role as Provost at the University of Houston-Victoria. But through it all, music remained close to his heart.

“I’ve been singing for many years, like many others who grew up in church,” says Glenn. “In the 90s, I became a worship leader at a church in Maryland. Because of the church’s topical ministry style, we wrote most of the songs we sang.”

It was Glenn’s wife, Marsha, who rekindled his musical passion with a simple yet heartfelt request: a Christmas album. “This album is really my Christmas gift to her,” Glenn shares. “For 34 years, she’s been my light. It felt fitting to create something for her that could shine a little light in these dark times.”

With a busy schedule teaching and conducting research in space engineering, Glenn decided to get creative. He transformed his lab in the Bond Engineering Building at Alabama A&M into a makeshift recording studio to bring wife’s wish to life.

Glenn’s engineering expertise isn’t limited to the recording studio. Recently, he led a student interview with NASA astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps before her return from a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station. “Huntsville’s vibrant space industry has been the perfect environment to advance my research,” Glenn explains.

Even with his work in cutting-edge technology, Glenn’s heart remains firmly tied to music. “The holidays are a time for reflection and connection,” he says. “I hope this album brings a little joy to everyone who listens.”