By Sophie Foster
Copy Writer
Associate Professor of English and American Studies Dr. Alisha Knight will become the inaugural Associate Provost of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Senior Equity Officer at Washington College.
According to an email sent by President of the College Dr. Mike Sosulski on Feb. 8, “establishing a senior leadership position to focus on DEI initiatives is an exciting and crucial step for the College.”
The official announcement, which was posted to the WC website on Feb. 8, outlined the responsibilities of this position. They will include the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and staff; the fostering of an inclusive learning environment; and directly supporting the implementation of the College’s strategic plan for DEI.
According to Interim Provost and Dean of the College Dr. Michael Harvey, “diversity is everybody’s business,” and “this position will help ensure that as we do things like think about policies, think about strategic plans, think about budgets, think about the training of people, look at our curriculum…that we are keeping diversity broadly understood and constantly in mind.”
Dr. Knight, who has been at WC for nearly two decades, won the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020 and the 2020 Cromwell Award for Innovation in Teaching. In her Feb. 8 address to the College community, she said that she “came to WC because [she] genuinely believed [she] could help maintain and even build the momentum needed to achieve inclusive academic excellence.”
According to Dr. Knight, this goal remains intact.
“Broadly, I’m looking to achieve a couple things,” she said. “First, to really create a truly inclusive learning environment for WC students…second, to increase the diversity of the Academic Affairs staff and faculty here at the College…[and third], supporting the diverse living environment for students.”
Dr. Knight wants students to know that the work she plans to do will require collaboration and partnership with everyone in the campus community; that the placement of responsibility on one person alone leads initiatives to fail, and that if change is a primary goal, it must be an effort from everyone.
“I don’t want students to look at me as the diversity police or the diversity savior,” Dr. Knight said, adding that, in comparison to other liberal arts colleges, “in many ways we’re late to the game. I think we can certainly catch up quickly if we’re willing to do that work.”
Black Student Union President and junior Jonah Nicholson is eager to see this work get done, and views Dr. Knight as someone who can “bring determination, integrity, and a shield for students here.”
“I don’t want people to feel like they have to rehash what’s already been said,” she said, elaborating that she doesn’t just want to come into the position and start demanding change without a sense of what others view as important.
“The downside of bureaucracy,” Dr. Harvey said, “is that if all you have is the bureaucracy, it doesn’t feel alive to people. And Dr. Knight brings energy, life, imagination, and empathy to this position, ensuring that it won’t just be a bureaucratic title.”
Photo Courtesy of Washington College
Featured Photo Caption: Associate Professor of English and American Studies Dr. Alisha Knight will be the inaugural associate provost of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and senior equity officer. Dr. Knight will be officially accepting the position this summer.