Jenkins, Glenn L. (Glenn Llewellyn), 1898-1979

Dates

• Existence: March 25, 1898 - January 12, 1979

Biographical Information

Glenn Llewellyn Jenkins, pharmacist and fourth dean of Purdue's School of Pharmacy, was born on a farm near Sparta, Wisconsin, March 25, 1898 to Thomas and Laura Elizabeth (Rathbun) Jenkins. Glenn received his primary education in a one-room schoolhouse and attended the local high school in Sparta. He went to the University of Wisconsin and received a Bachelor of Science in 1922, a Masters of Science in 1923, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1926.

Jenkins married fellow University of Wisconsin classmate, Serena Elizabeth Forberg, June 29, 1926 in Glencoe, Illinois. The couple had four children: Serena Elizabeth, Thomas Nelson, Glenn Llewellyn, Jr., and Carol Ruth.

Dr. Jenkins served as an assistant instructor at the University of Wisconsin from 1923 to 1926 and became an instructor in 1927. He also became a registered pharmacist in the state of Wisconsin that same year. He went to the University of Maryland in 1927 as a professor and headed the department of pharmaceutical chemistry. In 1936, Dr. Jenkins moved to the University of Minnesota where he served as a professor and head of the department of pharmaceutical chemistry. In 1941, he accepted the position of Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Purdue University.

At the time Dr. Jenkins became head of the School of Pharmacy, the school had an enrollment of 120 undergraduates, 15 graduate students, and a faculty of five professors, two instructors, two service staff, and a librarian. Jenkins immediately re-organized the graduate program and added departments of instruction for graduate work: pharmacology and pharmacognosy in 1941, bionucleonics in 1947, physical pharmacy in 1956, and pharmacy administration in 1957. In 1960, the curriculum was changed from a minimum four-year course to a minimum five-year course with one year of pre-pharmacy and four years of pharmacy instruction. In 1963, the name of the school was changed from School of Pharmacy to School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences to indicate the school's new educational objectives.

In the twenty five years that Glenn Jenkins served as dean, Purdue's School of Pharmacy became the fifth largest undergraduate, the largest graduate school of pharmacy in the United States and number of faculty had grown to 41 full-time members. The school had become a pioneer in pharmaceutical research, most notably in the area of bionucleonics which was originated at Purdue under Jenkins' administration. On January 1, 1966, Dean Jenkins took terminal leave from Purdue and formally retired in July of that year. He was named Dean Emeritus of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences.

Throughout his career, Dr. Jenkins was the senior co-author of several books on the field of pharmacology and published more than 100 scientific and educational papers. He was a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association from 1927 into the 1970s and served as president of the association from 1949 to 1950. In 1949, Jenkins served as chairman of the American Pharmaceutical Association Mission to post-war Japan to advise General MacArthur and his staff regarding pharmacy practice, education, organization, and industry. He also served in various capacities in numerous pharmaceutical organizations. Jenkins was a member of the Indiana State Board of Health for over three decades. He was awarded many citations and honorary degrees over his lifetime, including the prestigious Remington Medal in 1963.

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