Everyone knows Baker University President Pat Long, but what about the woman behind the presidency?

“I can’t imagine my time at Baker without her. It’d be impossible,” Long said. “She knows the rhythm of the year. She’s always three steps ahead of me. I would be lost without her, and I think a new president coming in would be equally lost.”

Executive Assistant Myra Glover started in the president’s office at the same time as Long. She serves as a gatekeeper for the information that actually gets to Long’s desk, filtering and handling the tasks that can be done without the president’s stamp of approval.

“The most important thing that I bring to the table is that the president is never blind-sided,” Glover said. “I make sure that on any given day, I can anticipate what is going to come down the pike. You can’t always do that, but if something does come up, I make sure it’s always a positive and productive scenario.”

The two are good friends, so close that when Long put in her letter of resignation, Glover announced hers as well. But after a few “strong” conversations with coworkers, Glover canceled the countdown on her phone and decided to stay through the transition of the incoming president, Lynne Murray.

Long knows that the president’s office needs Glover’s help.

“I feel really selfish about leaving, I feel selfish about saying ‘Myra, you have to stay,’ when I made the decision to go,” Long said. “I do hope she can stay another year or so, because Myra knows so much about this office, these people and knowing the different constituent groups.“

Glover came to Baker in 1995 to work in student services. When she was offered the job as an executive assistant, her response was, “Well, I do like Pat,” and she’s been in the office ever since.

“The timing was perfect,” Glover said. “I was ready for a change, but I didn’t want to leave Baker. That’s the beauty of BU. When you say it’s a family — it’s a family.”

Although she graduated from Missouri Valley College, her husband Bill works for Baker and both of her children graduated from the institution.

Glover said her position takes thick skin and flexibility. She is in charge of day-to-day operations such as Long’s speaking arrangements, calendar, events at the Collins House and making sure Long is in the right place at the right time.

She said the work is hard, but Glover loves her position.

“Working for someone like (Long,) who is so invested and dedicated, is a true blessing, and full of very action-packed days, nights and even weekends,” Glover said.

While Glover will miss Long, she thinks that Murray will fit into the community nicely. As a part of the presidential search committee, Glover said they could not have scripted a better scenario with a president.

“It’s been emotional,” Glover said. “(Long) is family, so to have (Murray) coming in with the support from (Long) is making our lives so much easier with the transition”

Connor Bechard, executive office assistant, sees the hard work that Glover puts into her daily life. He said she is the supportive engine that makes Baker run.

“She is literally the driving force behind everything that people see,” Bechard said. “She plays a lot of different roles and is this phonebook of knowledge.”

But Bechard thinks she takes her job farther than just an office assistant. As a graduate assistant for the men’s basketball team, Bechard balances a lot of tasks at once. But Glover makes sure he finds time for everything.

“She’s kind of a motherly figure for myself and others that are newer on this side,” Bechard said. “Her love for students is second to none, and her passion for the university is second for none. She’s not at every event, but she is the one making sure it all runs smoothly.”