Best known for his time on the basketball court when he was an undergraduate studying social psychology, Knight recently returned to Lehigh as associate vice president for development in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
You earned a number of accolades playing basketball, including Second Team All-Patriot League and Lehigh Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2005-2006. You’re also second in Lehigh’s record books for most points scored in a game with 45. What did you enjoy most about playing for Lehigh?
Of all the accolades, the two I’m most proud of are the Scholar-Athlete of the Year and being honored as the inaugural recipient of the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award. As much fun as we had on the court, I enjoyed the time I had to build strong bonds with my teammates, many of whom I still call close friends today.
You’ve worked in fundraising for the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. What brought you back to Lehigh?
I’ve stayed connected to Lehigh over the years, even while out on the West Coast during my time at Stanford University. As an alum, I became intrigued with the ambitions of the Lehigh strategy, Inspiring the Future Makers, and the vision set forth by the leadership at Lehigh. I believed I could help make a difference in pushing it forward. ... It’s amazing to be back. I’m passionate about this place, and some of the best years of my life were spent on this campus.
What do you enjoy about fundraising, and what aspects of your new role at Lehigh are you most looking forward to?
I enjoy the relationship-building aspects of our work and discovering the personal stories of fulfillment that drive the generous philanthropy from our donors. I was on a basketball scholarship and the beneficiary of someone else’s generosity, and that is something I’m always reminded of in the impact it had on my journey. I’m mostly looking forward to helping lead the GO Beyond: Campaign for Future Makers efforts in reaching our goal of $1.25B. When I think about some of Lehigh's core values, I see that they align with mine: integrity and honesty, commitment to excellence, leadership and intellectual curiosity.
How did your time at Lehigh help you with your career?
I fully embraced the rigor that came with being a student-athlete at Lehigh, and in turn, it prepared me for the rigors of the real world. The Lehigh alumni network is powerful, and I was able to land my first job through a Lehigh Men’s Basketball connection, which paved the way for me to have a career in development/fundraising.
What advice would you give to Lehigh student athletes?
Being able to attain an elite education and compete athletically at Lehigh is an awesome experience on its own. It goes by fast! Challenge yourself daily, step outside of your comfort zone and do things that will spark your intellectual curiosity and interest. A lot of my network at Lehigh started to develop more outside of basketball because of my willingness to do that. Build connections, be authentic and connect with others on a personal level.
