Dr. Carl Knight

Dr. Carl Knight, a Charter member of the Dallas County Community College District, has been a professor of anatomy/physiology, and microbiology for fifty-two years and has served as an academic advisor for students seeking professional careers in medicine and biological research. A graduate of Stoneham High School in Massachusetts, he received a BS, MS, and PH.D. from Michigan State University, specializing in Avian anatomy/physiology. Dr. Knight conducted research for the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Avian Anatomy Project. He taught graduate and undergraduate students as a teaching assistant in avian physiology. Carl was on the MSU varsity fencing team. He was the principal investigator on a 1.8-million-dollar NSF (National Science Foundation) grant “Project Pathways: Broadening Access and Success of STEM Students.” Only four grants of this type were awarded in the United States to community colleges. One student graduated in the top 10 medical students in her class at UT Southwestern Medical School.

Dr. Knight is one of the founders and former vice president of the Counsel of Graduate Students (COGS) at Michigan State University and is past president of the Texas Association of Advisors of the Health Professions (TAAHP). He is a charter member and past president of the Dallas County Community College Faculty Association (DCCFA) and has served on the Baylor School of Nursing/LHBSN Dean’s Board for many years. He has also served on the Board of Directors of The Big Thicket Association (BTA).

Dr. Knight has received several honors in his career. At MSU he received the Excellence in Teaching Citation “Who, as a graduate teaching assistant demonstrated outstanding skill in undergraduate education." Eastfield College presented him with the “Minnie Stevens Piper Award,” and from the DCCCD, the “Miles Outstanding Teaching Award.” He was recognized by the League of Innovation as "Innovator of the Year 2006-2007" and at Eastfield College, “Innovator of the year.”  He received the “Discover Life in America” award, “Outstanding Educator of the Year for Biodiversity Education.” The National Park Service presented him with the “Keeper of the Live Oak Award” for the Southeast Region of the United States.

Carl has a daughter and two grandchildren who live in Canton. His daughter, Shannon, is a teacher at Mesquite ISD and his oldest granddaughter, Samantha teaches at Crandall ISD. Marci is a recent graduate of LHBSN. Shannon’s husband Mark owns a pecan company. The family enjoys the outdoors and has land set aside for wildlife: deer, road runners, box turtles, rabbits, bobcats, and birds. Over the years, Carl’s family has been active in helping to establish the Big Thicket National Preserve and Geraldine Watson’s Wildlife Preserve located in Southeast Texas. Carl believes that being involved with nature and its natural beauty allows one to be at peace with the world.