Meet Thomas “Tommy” Glenn, employee at Trinity with Aramark Dining and Food Services. You may recognize him as one of the many smiling faces working in the Coates Student Center Commons, serving up tacos and more. Even recent graduates and alumni could recognize him, as he has been working for Trinity off and on for about 16 years. He currently works as a grill cook at the on-campus Taco Taco Café.
“I always kind of find my way back home [to Trinity],” Glenn said.
Jacob Citron, Food Service and Commons location manager, has been working with Glenn for more than a year now and gave a glowing description of him as an employee.
“Tommy’s a big personality, and in my years of working in college dining, big personalities go over well in the campus community,” Citron said. “Students have a way to identify with him. He’s not just a face, he’s a voice — a welcoming one and a friendly one. He creates conversations and relationships with students. It’s a nice thing to see.”
From Glenn’s perspective, students are one of the reasons that make him say he loves every aspect of his job working at the university.
“Trinity students are the best students I’ve ever seen. Study hard and pass those tests,” Glenn said.
According to Citron, Glenn’s upbeat and humorous personality — “outgoing” as he described himself — makes him a pleasure work with and in his interactions with people. Because he has been around for so long, he is one of the well-known and reputed figures around campus and truly a vital part of the Trinity community.
He also describes Glenn as a reliable and adaptable employee who puts in hard work.
“If we ever need Tommy to work in Mabee Hall, he can do it. If we need him in the Commons, he’s here. If we need him to come in early, he’s here early. Even when asked to stay late, he stays late,” Citron said.
Perla Farias, Food Services employee, believes Tommy’s extensive experience makes him a valuable member of the Food Services team.
“He’s kind and helps a lot of students. Students love him. We love him,” Farias said.
She expressed gratitude for Glenn’s support and friendship, adding that they were two of the few employees who have been working together for more than two years at Trinity.
According to her, not only is he always kind and ready to help anyone in need, but he is also a great chef and has unique recipes and tips that make everything better.
Often working shifts from mid afternoon to midnight, Monday through Thursday, Glenn spends much of his time on campus working, but Fridays and weekends are reserved for his moments of leisure. During these days off, he usually spends time at home with his wife or works at a ranch with horses. He is especially passionate about horseback riding and also loves fishing.
Glenn ultimately argued that, like Michael Jordan, he could not have made it on his own without support from an entourage. So while this article features Tommy as a individual, he insisted the focus should be brought onto the Food Service staff and team as a whole.
“It’s not just Tommy. Tommy’s got a crew. If it wasn’t for them, I couldn’t shine,” Glenn said.
