Alabama State University News May 22, 2014 Dr. John F. Knight Jr. Retires Effective July 1 Longtime Alabama State University administrator Dr. John F. Knight Jr. has announced that he will retire effective July 1. Knight sent his official announcement to President Gwendolyn E. Boyd and to members of the ASU Board of Trustees on today. In his letter to Board Chairman Elton Dean, Knight expressed his gratitude for being able to serve his alma mater: "When I started working at Alabama State University in 1976, I could not have imagined where this journey would lead," Knight wrote. "In the 38 years that have since passed, I have had the honor of sharing in many of the most pivotal moments in our University's history and development. These times of both challenge and success have indeed defined what I hope will be regarded as a distinguished career of service to ASU, and I am forever grateful for them." A 1974 graduate of Alabama State University, Knight was an honor student who served in several leadership roles, including president of the Student Government Association. During his illustrious career with the University, Knight has held a number of key positions, including director of Public Relations, director of Communications and Public Affairs, assistant vice president for Planning and Institutional Advancement, Executive Assistant to the President and Acting President. He was appointed to his current position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2008. Knight has received much acclaim for being the lead plaintiff in the historic Knight v. Alabama lawsuit that brought an end to the vestiges of segregation and racial discrimination in the funding of Alabama's higher education institutions. The resulting consent decree led to much of the academic and physical transformation that has come to the University in recent years. "I don't know of another single individual who has done more for Alabama State University," said Dean. "Many people don't know that he actually put his life and his family's lives in jeopardy during the battle to win the Knight v. Alabama case. His sacrifice actually helped two historically black institutions in this state (ASU and Alabama A&M University) receive the funding that they needed to continue to educate minority students. When you look at our stadium, all of the other new facilities and hear about our new academic programs, John Knight's name should come to mind. He will be sorely missed as a visionary leader of this institution." In his letter to President Boyd, Knight referred to being proud to be part of the team that helped to bring about the University's present transformation. "It has been my pleasure to work with a phenomenal team of professionals to usher in an unprecedented transformation and implement a bold, strategic vision of ASU - many years in the making. I extend best wishes for a new era of excellence and opportunity at ASU and ensure my unwavering support of institutional success," Knight added. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!