LANSING, Mich. — Lansing Community College Board of Trustees bestowed the title of president emeritus on Dr. Brent Knight during its June 22 special meeting.
The Board of Trustees approved a resolution awarding the emeritus status to LCC’s sixth president who announced his retirement late last summer. Dr. Knight is the first LCC president to receive the title.
“President Knight has been an exceptional and dynamic leader during his tenure as our president,” Board Chair Lawrence Hidalgo, Jr. said. “His leadership has resulted in national, state and local recognition for LCC. Dr. Knight’s extensive experience managing diverse student bodies; building strong relationships with college communities, boards and faculty; and championing responsible fiscal management makes it only fitting that his tremendous value to our college is honored in this manner.”
When asked about this outstanding recognition rarely seen among community college’s Dr. Knight said, “I am deeply honored to be named president emeritus; I am grateful. It has been a privilege to have been the president of Lansing Community College for 12 years.”
Dr. Knight’s top priority was always student success. He was deeply concerned with students obtaining a high-quality, affordable education. His desire was for students to leave the college with the ability to make a living wage to care for themselves and their families.
Dr. Knight’s impressive career as a community college president began in 1976, at the age of 29, when he was named president of Triton College in River Grove, Ill., becoming one of the youngest college presidents in the nation.
Dr. Knight embodied superior leadership and innovation in his every undertaking at LCC. He is responsible for some 27 sculpture installations across LCC’s campuses. His final sculpture project was Upward Bound. This stunning piece, located in the center of a new quadrangle in the heart of the Downtown Campus soars 43 feet into the air and consists of three vibrant colored, vertical beams that reflect atop a uniquely engineered, 50-ton base.
The iconic sculpture is one of the largest in Michigan and is a defining monument of LCC, downtown Lansing and Dr. Knight’s legacy.
Upward Bound was made possible through a generous gift from LCC Trustee Andrew Abood and his family to honor their mother, Patricia.
As the curtain closes on Dr. Knight’s presidency the college, even operating remotely, seems a little melancholy. A true measure of respect for a giant of a man who will be tremendously missed.
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