Gloria Gibson holds a B.A. and an M.A. in music education from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in folklore and ethnomusicology concentration from Indiana University. She began her post-doctorate university career at Indiana University, where she served as an associate professor in the Department of Afro-American Studies and as the director of the Archives of Traditional Music from 1995 to 1999. Ms. Gibson went on to hold subsequent high-level university positions including professor of the Department of English, Folklore, and Ethnomusicology at Arkansas State University from 2004 to 2009, executive vice president and provost of the University of Northen Iowa from 2009 to 2014, and president of Northeastern Illinois University from 2018 to 2023.
During her time in the latter role, Ms. Gibson endeavored to offer excellent educational experiences for students, informed by an understanding of the differing levels of collegiate readiness. She provided leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the campus safe by convening a task force and transitioning to online and hybrid models of teaching. She also focused on enhancing the Office of Career Services to offer increased connectivity between students and employers, ultimately serving the workforce needs of the state.
To relax, Ms. Gibson enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including gardening, walking, strength training, yoga, and traveling. She also likes to watch professional baseball, basketball, and soccer, and she is interested in the history of black skateboarders. Ms. Gibson is a Covenant House Illinois board member – an organization focused on providing housing to homeless youth – and a member of the YMCA.
