Charles Boynton Knapp
Encyclopedia
Charles Boynton "Chuck" Knapp (born August 13, 1946) was the president of the University of Georgia
(UGA) in Athens, Georgia
, United States. He served in that capacity from 1987 until his resignation in 1997.
, on August 13, 1946. He received a bachelor's degree
(B.S.) with honors and distinction from Iowa State University
in 1968. While at Iowa State, Knapp joined the Iowa Gamma chapter of Phi Delta Theta
Fraternity.
He earned a combined master's degree
(M.A.
) and doctoral degree (Ph.D.
) in economics
from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1972.
. He then left academia from 1977-1979 to serve as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Labor in Washington D.C. and, subsequently, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor from 1979 until 1981.
Returning to academia, Knapp became Associate Professor of Public Policy at George Washington University
from 1981 to 1982. He moved to Tulane University
in 1982 and continued teaching economics. He then became Executive Vice President of Tulane in 1985 and served in that capacity until accepting the UGA presidency in 1987. At that time, Knapp was the youngest president of any of the nation's major research universities.
During his presidency, Knapp was a founding member of the Georgia Research Alliance
and was instrumental in the creation of the HOPE Scholarship
. He chaired the board of directors of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges and served on the National School-to-Work Advisory Council.
Upon leaving UGA, Knapp became president of the Aspen Institute
in Washington, D.C. and joined Heidrick & Struggles as a partner in their higher education practice. He also was appointed to the American Council on Education
and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
.
Knapp was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award by the Iowa State University Alumni Association in 1994. In 2004, Knapp was named president emeritus
of UGA by the Georgia Board of Regents
.
In 2005, Knapp joined UGA’s Institute of Higher Education as a part-time Distinguished Public Service Fellow and professor
of economics in The University of Georgia
's Terry College of Business
.
Knapp currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at Oglethorpe University
in Atlanta, Georgia
.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(UGA) in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, United States. He served in that capacity from 1987 until his resignation in 1997.
Early life and education
Knapp was born in Ames, IowaAmes, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
, on August 13, 1946. He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
(B.S.) with honors and distinction from Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
in 1968. While at Iowa State, Knapp joined the Iowa Gamma chapter of Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
Fraternity.
He earned a combined master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
(M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
) and doctoral degree (Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
) in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1972.
Academic and professional career
From 1972-1976, Knapp taught economics at the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. He then left academia from 1977-1979 to serve as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Labor in Washington D.C. and, subsequently, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor from 1979 until 1981.
Returning to academia, Knapp became Associate Professor of Public Policy at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
from 1981 to 1982. He moved to Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in 1982 and continued teaching economics. He then became Executive Vice President of Tulane in 1985 and served in that capacity until accepting the UGA presidency in 1987. At that time, Knapp was the youngest president of any of the nation's major research universities.
During his presidency, Knapp was a founding member of the Georgia Research Alliance
Georgia Research Alliance
The Georgia Research Alliance is an Atlanta, Georgia-based nonprofit organization that coordinates research efforts between Georgia's public and private sectors.-External links:* * at the New Georgia Encyclopedia...
and was instrumental in the creation of the HOPE Scholarship
HOPE Scholarship
The HOPE Scholarship Program created in 1993 under the supervision of Georgia Governor Zell Miller, is a merit-based higher education scholarship that is funded entirely by revenue from the Georgia Lottery and is administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission...
. He chaired the board of directors of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges and served on the National School-to-Work Advisory Council.
Upon leaving UGA, Knapp became president of the Aspen Institute
Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1950 as the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies. The organization is dedicated to "fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues." The...
in Washington, D.C. and joined Heidrick & Struggles as a partner in their higher education practice. He also was appointed to the American Council on Education
American Council on Education
The American Council on Education is a United States organization, established in 1918, comprising over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations....
and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges is an American higher education association committed to the improvement of academic governing boards and boards of institutionally related foundations—those boards that oversee the workings of colleges, universities, and their...
.
Legacy
Construction projects totaling more than $400 million were started during his administration, including the Biological Sciences Complex (1992); , Ramsey Student Center for Physical Activities (1995), the Performing Arts Center, Hodgson Hall (1996), the music building (1996), the Georgia Museum of Art (1996), Rusk Hall (1996,) and the UGA Welcome Center (1996).Knapp was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award by the Iowa State University Alumni Association in 1994. In 2004, Knapp was named president emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of UGA by the Georgia Board of Regents
Georgia Board of Regents
The Georgia Board of Regents oversees the University System of Georgia as part of the state government of Georgia in the United States. The University System of Georgia is composed of all state public institutions of higher education.-History:...
.
In 2005, Knapp joined UGA’s Institute of Higher Education as a part-time Distinguished Public Service Fellow and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of economics in The University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
's Terry College of Business
Terry College of Business
The C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry College of Business is the business school at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. The Terry College is the flagship business school in the state of Georgia and one of 16 schools and colleges at the oldest state-chartered public university in the...
.
Knapp currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University is a private liberal arts college in Brookhaven, Georgia, an inner suburb of Atlanta. It was chartered in 1835 and named after James Edward Oglethorpe, the state's founder.-History:...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.