John F. McKnight, Jr. serves as Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion at Connecticut College where he also holds an appointment as Affiliated Associate Professor of Education. McKnight began his term as the College’s first dedicated chief diversity officer in July 2016 and in that role provides strategic direction for equity and inclusion work across campus. Under his leadership, the College engaged in an inclusive 18-month process to develop a comprehensive Equity and Inclusion Action Plan that outlines curricular initiatives, co-curricular programs, and facilities projects, including an effort to renew the College’s historic cultural center spaces. McKnight manages the offices of equity and compliance programs, gender and sexuality programs, race and ethnicity programs, religious and spiritual programs, student accessibility services, and the Title IX office. He holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from Indiana University and a doctorate in educational administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.