John McKnight

John McKnight was recently named the inaugural dean of undergraduate student affairs at Dartmouth College’s School of Arts and Sciences. A role he will start in June of 2026, McKnight brings more than two decades of qualified experience.

Currently. McKnight serves as the vice president and dean of Haverford College in Pennsylvania, where he oversees the student affairs division and several other crucial areas on campus, including campus safety and professional advising.

Prior to Haverford, he was the dean of institutional equity and inclusion at Connecticut College, where he paved the way for building a diverse community by implementing a number of changes across the college. In this role, McKnight ensured that all members of the Connecticut College community were represented and that their interests were advocated for.

He has also served at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, where he held several roles in student affairs, including serving as the Dean of Intercultural Development. Predating that, he was at Lehigh University, where he served as director of multicultural affairs.

Throughout his time in higher education, McKnight has held roles that have emphasized and centred the importance of uplifting underrepresented populations. Throughout his career, McKnight has ensured that diverse groups have the support they need to succeed in promoting equity and social action.

McKnight is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he received a Bachelor of Science from the College of Journalism and Communications. From there, he attended Indiana University in Bloomington and received a master of Science in higher education/Higher Education Administration.

He also holds a doctorate in education, specializing in administration and leadership studies, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. There is no doubt that as McKnight prepares for his new role at Dartmouth, he will bring his expertise and extensive leadership experience to support and improve the experience for all students.