Dr. Nancy E. McGlen began her career at Niagara University as an assistant professor of political science in September 1980 after teaching at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She was named an associate professor in 1982 and a full professor in 1988. She was the director of the social science program from 1988-1998 and the chair of the department of political science and criminal justice from 1985-1988. In 1997, she was appointed acting dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She became the dean in 1998.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and her master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of Rochester. She was a lecturer in the department of political science at the University of Rochester before going to University at Buffalo as an assistant professor of political science in 1973.