Gary Knell
Encyclopedia
Gary Evan Knell is an American broadcast executive who is the president of Sesame Workshop
and effective December 1, 2011, began serving as president and CEO of NPR
.
in journalism
and political science
from UCLA in 1975, followed by a law degree
from Loyola Law School
in 1978. While at UCLA, he worked on the school's newspaper, the Daily Bruin
.
since 2000. Prior to that, he held other positions at Sesame Workshop (formerly Children's Television Workshop), including vice president and director of legal affairs. From 1981 to 1989, he held several positions at WNET
-TV in New York.
He has been a member of the board of directors
of Heidrick & Struggles
since 2007.
Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop , is a Worldwide American non-profit organization behind the production of several educational children's programs that have run on public broadcasting around the world...
and effective December 1, 2011, began serving as president and CEO of NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
.
Early life
Knell graduated from Grant High School and earned a BABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from UCLA in 1975, followed by a law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School is the law school of Loyola Marymount University, a private Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions, in Los Angeles, California. Loyola was established in 1920. Like Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law , it...
in 1978. While at UCLA, he worked on the school's newspaper, the Daily Bruin
Daily Bruin
The Daily Bruin is the student newspaper at the University of California, Los Angeles.-Frequency and governance:When classes are in session, the Bruin is published Monday through Friday during the school year and once a week on Mondays in the summer quarter.It is overseen by the ASUCLA...
.
Career
Knell has been the president and CEO of Sesame WorkshopSesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop , is a Worldwide American non-profit organization behind the production of several educational children's programs that have run on public broadcasting around the world...
since 2000. Prior to that, he held other positions at Sesame Workshop (formerly Children's Television Workshop), including vice president and director of legal affairs. From 1981 to 1989, he held several positions at WNET
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
-TV in New York.
He has been a member of the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Heidrick & Struggles
Heidrick & Struggles
Heidrick & Struggles International Incorporated is a global executive search firm. The company claims to be the first leadership advisory firm in the world. In terms of 2009 revenue, publicly held Heidrick & Struggles is the world's second largest executive-search. It is one of the "Big Five"...
since 2007.