David Knight named American Council on Education fellow
David Knight, interim dean of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been selected as a fellow of the American Council on Education (ACE) 2026-27 class.
Nominated by President Tim Sands, Knight will join a selective group of 31 individuals for a year-long leadership development experience that prepares participants for senior leadership roles through immersive, cohort-based learning.
“David’s commitment to excellence distinguishes him as a well-deserving recipient of this recognition,” Sands said. “His service as interim dean of the College of Engineering and special assistant to the provost have advanced key priorities at both the college and university level, and we are deeply grateful for his leadership.”
Knight, who also serves as a professor in the Department of Engineering Education, has helped advance the college’s strategic priorities and strengthen a culture of collaboration and service. As interim dean, he has focused on sustaining momentum and supporting the college community during a period of transition. He will officially pass the reins to the newly appointed dean on July 10.
The Virginia native currently leads a National Science Foundation S-STEM Research Hub, in collaboration with 30 colleges and universities, to examine approaches for building and sustaining organizational partnerships that support low-income students in engineering, computing, and computer science.
“My leadership and research passions have always focused on making higher education organizations work better to achieve big goals,” Knight said. “Through this fellowship, I look forward to gaining insights on how different universities structure their organizations, processes, and cultures. Learning from colleagues across the cohort will help inform new ideas that can benefit the Virginia Tech community.”
The ACE Fellows Program cohort will bring Knight together with higher education leaders from around the country, including industrial and systems engineering alumna and engineering advisory board member Sharnnia Artis '02, M.S. '05, Ph.D. '08, who serves as the vice president for access, compliance, and community at George Mason University. Other past ACE fellows from Virginia Tech include Menah Pratt, vice president for strategic affairs, and Robert Weiss, professor in the Department of Geosciences.
