heather knight educator american educator currently serves president woman serve role african american woman lead college affiliated north_america born jamaica family moved united_states completing undergraduate degree graduate work received doctorate stanford_university pursued research harvard_university began career faculty award winning associate asked 21st president accused academic freedom tenure president recently causing departure half biography personal life born jamaica lived years life immigrated united_states settling new_york parents austin knight married professor outreach chaplain sons daughters education knight began formal education jamaica british system family moved new_york attended featured academy_award winning movie fame series vocal performance knight began undergraduate education transferred year later known alabama graduated bachelor degree english years later got master degree english california received doctorate english stanford_university california completed studies management leadership education harvard_university cambridge massachusetts career knight began career california professor english later assistant associate diversity special programs time credited leading school major initiative credited nearly doubling number minority faculty knight youngest faculty member receive distinguished teacher scholar award award established reward teaching scholarship knight accepted serve michigan work involved oversight operations academic enterprises knight responsible overseeing academic programs time faculty students studying campus students studying programs world million budget knight selected president july took office september officially inaugurated april ceremony selection historical black president female president history furthermore currently black woman lead college knight took experienced consecutive years decline enrollment year president enrollment increased taking knight noted wide experience christian secular schools ability build consensus constituent parties december knight received award local recognizing willingness work community educational philosophy second school school year knight spoke integrating faith learning higher education advantage platform reported institutions higher learning taking fresh look religion spirituality argued provides multiple opportunities showcase years introduced theoretical framework meet opportunities titled framework consists seven main points meaning purpose found connection christ personal health lifestyle education caring life mind lifelong learning ethics morals generous service diversity earth tied good great heather knight studied stanford colleague concepts outlined book good great knight uses good great idea theoretical framework institutional improvement knight asserts called high level excellence based exceeding excellence god important role play models best practices higher education january edition recorder reports renovations campus accomplished knight leadership dining campus center major hub student life updated years recorder quotes knight think campus going good great including area campus including facilities vision years entire campus transformed statement faith reason late biology professor falsely accused promoting evolution contrary official church belief followed controversy teaching origins similar accusations president knight quoted statement commitment church beliefs emphasizing school dedication understanding contemporary issues surrounding science conflict specific theology
Heather Knight (educator)