Heather Knight (educator)

Heather Joy Knight was born in Jamaica and lived there for the first nine years of her life.{{cite journal|title=Catalyst for Positive Change: President Heather J. Knight talks about her dreams for PUC|journal=ViewPoint|year=2010|issue=Winter 2010|pages=2–5|url=http://www.puc.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/63175/President-viewpoint-article.pdf|access-date=24 April 2011|archive-date=24 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724193309/http://www.puc.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/63175/President-viewpoint-article.pdf|url-status=live}} She immigrated to the United States, settling in the Bronx, New York, with her parents Austin and Herolin Evelyn. Knight is married to professor and outreach chaplain, Norman Knight.{{cite news|last=Hoffman|first=Natalie|title=New president takes the helm at PUC|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/star/news/local/article_9ad18b60-acd7-5932-9a7d-12c2174fe0f4.html|access-date=24 April 2011|newspaper=St. Helena Star|date=24 October 2009|archive-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419120632/http://napavalleyregister.com/star/news/local/article_9ad18b60-acd7-5932-9a7d-12c2174fe0f4.html|url-status=live}} They have five sons and three daughters.

Knight began her formal education while in Jamaica under the British system. After her family moved to the Bronx, New York, she attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, featured in the 1980 Academy Award winning movie Fame and the 1982 TV series, majoring in vocal performance.

Knight began her undergraduate education at Howard University in Washington, DC but transferred a year later to Oakwood University, then known as Oakwood College, in Huntsville, Alabama where she graduated in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in English.{{cite news|title=Heather Knight, Veteran Educator, Named Andrews University Provost|url=http://news.adventist.org/2006/06/worl-church-heather-kight-vetera-eucator-ame-arews-uiversity-provost.html|access-date=23 April 2011|newspaper=Adventist News Network|date=29 June 2006}} Two years later, she got her master's degree in English from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. In 1991, she received her doctorate, also in English, from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. She completed postdoctoral studies in management and leadership in education at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Knight began her career at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California as a professor of English in 1988.{{cite news|date=August 26, 2009|volume=53|issue=1|title=Former Pacific Associate Provost Heather Knight Appointed President of Pacific Union College in Napa Valley|url=https://english.pacific.edu/Documents/marketing/bulletin/vol_53/Bulletin%20V53%20No%2001_web.pdf|page=3|work=Bulletin|publisher=University of the Pacific|access-date=11 October 2023}} She later became the assistant provost and then in 1997, the associate provost for Faculty Development, Diversity and Special Programs. During her time at the University of the Pacific, she is credited with leading the school's first Diversity Committee as well as spearheading a major initiative that is credited with nearly doubling the number of minority faculty at the University of the Pacific. In 1997, Knight became the youngest faculty member to receive the University of the Pacific's distinguished Eberhardt Teacher/Scholar Award for exemplary teaching and scholarship.{{cite news|title=Pacific Union College Announces New President |url=http://www.atoday.com/content/pacific-union-college-announces-new-president |access-date=23 April 2011 |newspaper=Adventist Today |date=17 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412041506/http://www.atoday.com/content/pacific-union-college-announces-new-president |archive-date=April 12, 2011 }}

In 2006, Knight was appointed provost of Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Her work there involved oversight of Andrews various operations and academic enterprises. Knight was responsible for overseeing over 150 academic programs, 227 full-time faculty, 3,400 students studying on the Berrien Springs campus, as well as another 4,000 students studying in Affiliation and Extension programs around the world, and a $75 million budget.

Knight was selected as President of Pacific Union College in July 2009 and took office in September 2009.{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Jillian|title=PUC taps new college president|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_e530fe31-9059-5e91-a61d-03d1b3b8988f.html|access-date=24 April 2011|newspaper=St. Helena Star|date=22 July 2009|archive-date=15 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715063951/http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_e530fe31-9059-5e91-a61d-03d1b3b8988f.html|url-status=live}} She was officially inaugurated on April 15, 2010, in a ceremony at the Pacific Union College Church.{{cite news | url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_44bdba36-491a-11df-b15b-001cc4c002e0.html | title=Dr. Heather Joy Knight becomes PUC's 21st president, formally | work=Napa Valley Register | date=16 April 2010 | access-date=9 June 2011 | archive-date=15 July 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715023633/http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_44bdba36-491a-11df-b15b-001cc4c002e0.html | url-status=live }}{{cite news|last=Cronk|first=Lainey S.|title=Pacific Union College Officially Installs New President|url=http://spectrummagazine.org/blog/2010/04/21/pacific-union-college-officially-installs-new-president|access-date=24 April 2011|newspaper=Spectrum Blog|date=21 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401235353/http://spectrummagazine.org/blog/2010/04/21/pacific-union-college-officially-installs-new-president|archive-date=1 April 2012|url-status=dead}} Her selection was historical, in that she is both the first black president and first female president in Pacific Union College history.{{cite news|last=Hoffman|first=Natalie|title=Taking the helm at PUC|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_5214a110-23de-5d96-ad29-eb289bf78a34.html|access-date=24 April 2011|newspaper=Napa Valley Register|date=21 October 2009|archive-date=15 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415081918/http://www.napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_5214a110-23de-5d96-ad29-eb289bf78a34.html|url-status=live}} Furthermore, she is the first (and currently only) black woman to lead a North American Adventist college.{{cite news|last=Kellner|first=Mark|title=Heather Knight to Helm Pacific Union College|url=http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=2741|access-date=24 April 2011|newspaper=Adventist Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205095934/http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=2741|archive-date=2010-12-05|url-status=dead}} When Knight took over, Pacific Union College had experienced two consecutive years of decline in enrollment, however, in her first year as president enrollment increased by 11%.{{cite news|title=President wants Pacific Union College to sparkle|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/star/news/opinion/editorial/article_fff20eb6-ce7e-59e9-8650-97be86f4c00b.html|access-date=25 April 2011|newspaper=St. Helena Star|date=10 June 2010|archive-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419120744/http://napavalleyregister.com/star/news/opinion/editorial/article_fff20eb6-ce7e-59e9-8650-97be86f4c00b.html|url-status=live}} After taking over at Pacific Union College, Knight has been noted for her wide experience at both Christian and secular schools and her ability to build consensus between various constituent parties. In December 2010, Knight received an award from the local Chamber of Commerce recognizing her attentiveness to and willingness to work with the community.{{cite news|title=St. Helena discovered new leaders in 2010|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/star/news/local/article_9ad18b60-acd7-5932-9a7d-12c2174fe0f4.html|access-date=24 April 2011|newspaper=St. Helena Star|date=30 December 2010|archive-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419120632/http://napavalleyregister.com/star/news/local/article_9ad18b60-acd7-5932-9a7d-12c2174fe0f4.html|url-status=live}} Knight completed her presidency at PUC in January, 2017.

In the second all-school colloquy of the 2009–2010 school year at Pacific Union College, Knight spoke on "Integrating Faith and Learning: A Higher Education Imperative" and her Adventist Advantage platform.{{cite news|last=Cronk|first=Lainey S.|title=President Speaks on the Adventist Advantage|url=http://www.puc.edu/news/archives/2009/president-speaks-on-the-adventist-advantage|access-date=24 April 2011|newspaper=News and Events Archives|date=5 October 2009|archive-date=24 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724193436/http://www.puc.edu/news/archives/2009/president-speaks-on-the-adventist-advantage|url-status=live}} She reported that institutions of higher learning are taking a fresh look at religion and spirituality and argued that it provides Adventist Education "with multiple opportunities to showcase what we have been doing so very well for so many years." She introduced her theoretical framework to meet these opportunities, titled the Adventist Advantage.

Heather Knight studied Stanford colleague Jim Collins' concepts outlined in his book Good to Great. Knight uses the 'good to great' idea as a theoretical framework for institutional improvement. Knight asserts that, "We are called to a really high level of excellence based on the exceeding excellence of God Himself. Therefore, we have an important role to play as pacesetters and models of best practices in higher education."{{Cite web |url=http://pacificunionrecorder.adventistfaith.org/issue/48/13/670 |title=Pacific Union Recorder, January, 2011. |access-date=2011-04-24 |archive-date=2011-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823232742/http://pacificunionrecorder.adventistfaith.org/issue/48/13/670 |url-status=dead }} The January, 2011 edition of the Pacific Union Recorder reports on renovations to the campus accomplished under Knight's leadership. Pacific Union College's dining commons and campus center, a major hub of student life, had not been updated in 30 years. The Recorder quotes Knight, "When I think about our campus going from good to great, I'm including every area of campus, including our facilities. My vision is that within the next several years the entire campus will be transformed."

In late 2010, a biology professor at Pacific Union College was falsely accused of promoting theistic evolution, contrary to official church belief. This followed the controversy over the teaching of origins at La Sierra University over similar accusations. As president, Knight was quoted in a statement affirming Pacific Union College's commitment to church beliefs while emphasizing the school's dedication "to understanding contemporary issues surrounding science that sometimes conflict with specific theology."{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Julie Z.|title=PUC Affirms Creation|url=http://www.puc.edu/news/archives/2010/puc-affirms-creation|access-date=24 April 2011|newspaper=News and Events Archives, Pacific Union College|date=2 November 2010|archive-date=24 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724193406/http://www.puc.edu/news/archives/2010/puc-affirms-creation|url-status=live}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://archive.today/20121214215444/http://www.puc.edu/president/ Official page on Pacific Union College website]

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Articles

• [http://news.adventist.org/2006/06/worl-church-heather-kight-vetera-eucator-ame-arews-uiversity-provost.html Kellner, Mark A. World Church: Heather Knight, Veteran Educator, Named Andrews University Provost Adventist News Network, June 28, 2006.]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101205143250/http://www.adventistreview.org/issue.php?issue=2008-1536&page=18 Knight, Heather Joy. The Greatest Gift of All. Adventist Review online edition.]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101215095746/http://adventistreview.org/article.php?id=3533 Knight, Heather Joy. Voices from the Dome, Atlanta, 2010. Adventist Review.]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110726122558/http://www.diversityweb.org/Digest/vol7no4/knight.cfm Knight, Heather J. and Sadao, Kathleen C. More Than Bittersweet Success: Effective Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Faculty of Color. Diversity Digest.]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120320095702/http://www.andrews.edu/president/provost_objectives_06_07.pdf Knight, Heather J. Andrews University Provost Objectives, 2006–2007.]
• [http://www.puc.edu/news/archives/2010/puc-president-talks-career-and-family-on-hope-channel Dr. Knight Talks Career and Family on the Hope Channel.]

Professional publications

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100528130214/https://www.andrews.edu/board/docs/nca_exec_summary_wor.pdf Andrews University's Executive Summary of the Self-Study Report. Prepared for The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, March 2009]

Images

• [http://napavalleyregister.com/image_2f8046c0-0866-5eae-86a3-5a7580038e3e.html Inauguration of Heather Joy Knight. Introduced by Chair, Napa Valley Register]
• [http://napavalleyregister.com/image_5ea562f6-c754-5349-9433-9cc6ac328cd9.html Inauguration. Dr. Knight with husband, Napa Valley Register]
• [http://napavalleyregister.com/image_c3097a67-9e7c-51be-a822-44be1e0565b1.html Inauguration. Panoramic view of sanctuary at time of inauguration. Napa Valley Register.]

Audio and video

• [https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1813139782246&oid=73246119003 Dr. Knight interviewed on Comcast Newsmakers]
• [http://web2.puc.edu/Departments/Media_Services/file/2010/Colloquy020410.mp3 February 4, 2010 Colloquy, (mp3)]
• [http://web2.puc.edu/Departments/Media_Services/file/2010/Colloquy093010.mp3 September 30, 2010 Colloquy, (mp3)]

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