Pacific Union College president to leave in January
Pacific Union College, President Heather J. Knight has announced she will be leaving Jan. 8 after more than seven years as leader of the Angwin-based school.
“It is always difficult to decide the right time to complete one’s presidency, but after considerable thought and prayer, I have notified PUC Board Chairperson Dr. Bradford Newton that I will complete my presidency within the next month in order to allow PUC adequate time to prepare for new presidential leadership for the next academic year. It has been a special privilege and pleasure to serve Pacific Union College, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked with PUC’s wonderful learning community of faculty, staff, and students and to positively impact this venerable institution over the past several years. My family and I wish PUC only the very best going forward.”
Knight took over as president in 2009 when she was tasked with turning the institution around after several years of enrollment decreases and financial challenges. Under her leadership, the college had its highest enrollment in 24 years, with 1,678 students in 2013 and also its highest freshman-to-sophomore year retention rate of 85 percent in the same year.
Knight is also credited with renovating and beautifying the campus.
“President Knight led Pacific Union College enthusiastically and courageously during some challenging years, and PUC is stronger and better positioned for the future because of her leadership,” says PUC Board Chairperson Dr. Bradford Newton. “Also, under her tenure, PUC received the single largest cash gift in its 134-year history in the amount of $2.6 million, which helped to significantly launch the current Heritage Campaign. Plans for preserving almost 900 acres of the College’s pristine forest lands through a Conservation Easement have also been developed during President Knight’s administration.”
Prior to her years of service at Pacific Union College, Knight had a long career at Adventist institutions. She served three years as provost at Andrews University, and for 18 years as Professor of English at University of the Pacific in Stockton.
Knight also made history as the first Black female to serve as the president of an Adventist college or university in North America.
