Staff Spotlight: Joyce Knight
Joyce Knight, Associate Dean of Student Academic Affairs & Advising, reflects on 41 years of service at 黑料门and beyond
Joyce Knight, DMin, joined 黑料门University Chicago in 1981 as a clerk in the registrar鈥檚 office. Forty-one years since her first day on the Lake Shore Campus, Knight has become a linchpin of student life and academic success in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). As the Associate Dean of Students Academic Affairs & Advising in CAS, Knight鈥檚 day-to-day consists of meeting with students, overseeing a team of academic advisors, and collaborating with members of the College鈥檚 leadership to ensure students鈥� needs are understood and met. But Knight is known, respected, and loved for going above-and-beyond in support of her colleagues and student advisees. It鈥檚 what has earned her multiple awards during her time at Loyola, including the Kay Egan Staff Member for Others Award, the Dux Mirabilis Award from the Board of Trustees, Staff Member of the Year, and the Got Your Six Award from Loyola鈥檚 Rambler Battalion and Veterans.
鈥淛oyce Knight truly exemplifies the Jesuit mission of cura personalis, or care for the whole person,鈥� said Peter J. Schraeder, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at 黑料门University Chicago. 鈥淗er steadfast devotion to supporting the College鈥檚 diverse student communities throughout their academic journeys and beyond is just one facet of her extraordinary legacy defined by her commitment to service, advocacy, and Ignatian spirituality.鈥�
Read on to learn more about Knight and what makes her an invaluable voice in the College of Arts and Sciences.
How did you begin your journey at 黑料门University Chicago and the College of Arts and Sciences? What made you stay all these years?
I was looking for a local job at the time and I lived right down the street from Loyola鈥檚 Lake Shore Campus. I never thought that I would end up with a career and stay for 41 years. I started as clerk in the Office of Registration and Records. A decade later, I came to the College of Arts and Sciences鈥� Office of the Dean as the Senior Evaluator processing graduation applications. I soon discovered that the graduation process should be coupled with sitting down and meeting with students. So, I started meeting with seniors, which is how the College鈥檚 academic advising services came to be. Since then, I鈥檝e led and grown our practice into a team of ten advising both juniors and seniors to meet students鈥� needs and support their success far beyond just graduation applications.
There are many reasons why I鈥檝e stayed at Loyola, but it really comes down to the phenomenal people who work alongside me and the University鈥檚 Jesuit mission. Loyola鈥檚 Ignatian values really resonated with me and connected with my studies in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries.
How has your role and approach to advising changed over the years?
My role, at its core, is about shepherding students through all of the advising processes and getting them what they need to succeed academically. But, the pandemic has caused a shift in what our students expect and need from our advising team. Many of our current students experienced their first years of college in a remote setting, which didn鈥檛 lend itself to helping students build connections and resiliency. They need more time, support, and TLC than ever, beyond just academic advising. In response, we鈥檝e shifted our approach to help connect students with the resources and care they might need, particularly when it comes to mental health. This is especially true with juniors and seniors, who are starting to think about their lives beyond Loyola. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 so grateful that our advising team is includes sociologists, psychologists, and social workers, because our students need those extra skillsets right now.
Overall, I think students are feeling stuck, but they also really want to be unstuck. They are eager to succeed and achieve some sense of normalcy. There鈥檚 just a gap that we need to help them jump over. We want to help them get ready to take flight and do great things.
In what ways have you become involved with service and advocacy within Loyola鈥檚 community?
I鈥檝e been able to serve on a few committees throughout the college. One example that鈥檚 really important to me is my work on the Dreamer Committee, which meets to see how we can support Loyola鈥檚 undocumented students. We鈥檝e done some activism, such as letter writing, asking our legislators to support students impacted by DACA. In addition to that, I encouraged the entire academic advising team, myself included, to gain Ally training to better support our undocumented students.
I have also been part of a few Ignatian committees to try and turn Loyola鈥檚 Jesuit mission into something concrete for people, like who St. Ignatius is, what his story means, and why we should care. I鈥檓 also involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on campus. More recently, I鈥檝e become involved with Loyola鈥檚 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which were kicked off earlier this semester. I鈥檓 on a few committees to integrate DEI values and practices throughout the institution. Something that I loved doing was the Diversity Abroad Committee, which worked with the Office of International Programs to encourage more of Loyola鈥檚 students of color to study abroad. These efforts have been impacted by the pandemic, of course, but that鈥檚 something I鈥檓 really interested in reviving in the future.
Every advisor in the College has a 鈥渟pecial population,鈥� or focus area of students with common studies or backgrounds. One of my specialized populations is Loyola鈥檚 ROTC and veteran students. Their needs are very different from a traditional student, so I try to provide personalized support within and outside of work hours, like additional help with registration to ensure they are on track and meet the government鈥檚 requirements. If they have an event or an award ceremony, I try to attend or promulgate it for them. I also wanted to find a way for the College to honor and thank them for their past and future service. So, alongside college leadership, we created a red, white, and blue cord for these students to wear at graduation.
What motivated you to become so involved in Loyola鈥檚 communities beyond your 9-to-5 role?
To me, a 9-to-5 is boring, for one. I鈥檓 more interested in a vocation than a job. A vocation has more to it. As far as my involvement with mission, Dreamers, and DEI, it鈥檚 personal. This work is important to me because it speaks to a person鈥檚 basic rights as a human being. And it鈥檚 something I try to do outside of Loyola, too. Some years ago, I became involved with an organization called , which focuses on community activism. I wanted to bring this dimension of community activism into the workplace.
As far as my involvement with ROTC and veteran students, I have a special place in my heart for them. That comes from my parents, who were both World War II veterans. My mom was a lieutenant and my dad was a sergeant, so my mom had higher rank and reminded my dad of that all the time. I was an army brat growing up and I wanted to be in the military myself, but my parents wouldn鈥檛 let me go. But, my son went on to join the military and he鈥檚 a Desert Storm veteran. From Bosnia to Afghanistan to Iraq, I was his point-of-contact and his main support when something happened to him. And when he came home from his tours, he would tell me everything. It was really scary to experience as his mom, but I鈥檓 just glad I could be there for him. Being both a child and mother of veterans helped me understand what those in the military go through. They have unique needs and, especially because of the service they provide, they deserve the extra attention and support.
What has been the most challenging part of your time at Loyola?
Honestly, the pandemic was a giant kick in the head. I think that the whole world has some level of post-traumatic stress from experiencing the pandemic, but it鈥檚 been especially challenging for our students. It鈥檚 left a lot of scarring and I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 over yet. In many ways, my team and I are responsible for trying to help put those pieces together for our students while dealing with our own trauma and struggles, too. We all made it through the horrors of the initial stages, but lately, there has been a societal shift back to 鈥渘ormal鈥� when it isn鈥檛 normal yet. We鈥檝e all been encouraged to move on and forget, but how can we forget? Eventually, I think we will all come away better for it, but it鈥檚 going to take a lot of work.
What has been most rewarding?
My opportunity to connect with people from all over the world and from different backgrounds and challenges. What鈥檚 been very rewarding is seeing students who, for whatever reason, such as if they grew up poor or are people of color, have been told that they would never make it then go on to really succeed. One of those students, who keeps in contact with me, is the U.S. ambassador to a country in Latin America. Several have gone on to become doctors. One such doctor has kept in touch with me for years and I just went to his child鈥檚 baptism. It鈥檚 been so exciting to see these students defy the limits that were put on them, grow during their time at Loyola, and go on to really thrive.
What is on the horizon for you that you are excited about?
One thing I鈥檓 really excited for that I think will help me be better in my role and as a person overall is my upcoming year-long internship program in Spiritual Direction with Loyola鈥檚 Campus Ministry and Jesuit Community. I will be back in class with tons of readings, which will give me an idea of what the college experience is like for students these days. On top of that, part of the internship includes working with clients. One of my clients is a social work graduate student, one is an undergrad, and another is a layperson in my church. It鈥檚 just a great opportunity to keep my finger on the pulse of what鈥檚 happening in the souls and hearts of people at 黑料门and in my local community. And I鈥檓 excited to, hopefully, make a difference one person at a time, to help them make life better, connect more with God, and connect with themselves and their communities.
Do you have any words of wisdom or advice for those who may be looking to be more connected to their community?
My advice for students and staff is to get involved. For students, I wouldn鈥檛 suggest getting overly involved, like joining 50 clubs. Try out a few at the beginning of an academic year, see how it feels, and try to stick with one for the rest of the year. Explore something that you really like to do, particularly something that isn鈥檛 connected to your major.
As far as staff, there are so many opportunities to connect with our community. I recommend exploring groups like University Senate, Staff Council, or Campus Ministry. I also recommend looking at organizations outside of 黑料门in your local area, like soup kitchens, clothing drives, community activism, or teaching English as a second language. There鈥檚 so much possible 鈥� I taught English for ten years through ONE Northside.
All in all, just put yourself out there. You don鈥檛 get a do-over, so take that risk. You鈥檇 be surprised what could come of it.
黑料门 the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest of 黑料门University Chicago鈥檚 15 schools, colleges, and institutes. More than 150 years since its founding, the College is home to 20 academic departments and 37 interdisciplinary programs and centers, more than 450 full-time faculty, and nearly 8,000 students. The 2,000+ classes that we offer each semester span an array of intellectual pursuits, ranging from the natural sciences and computational sciences to the humanities, the social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. Our students and faculty are engaged internationally at our campus in Rome, Italy, as well as at dozens of University-sponsored study abroad and research sites around the world. Home to the departments that anchor the University鈥檚 Core Curriculum, the College seeks to prepare all of Loyola鈥檚 students to think critically, to engage the world of the 21st century at ever deepening levels, and to become caring and compassionate individuals. Our faculty, staff, and students view service to others not just as one option among many, but as a constitutive dimension of their very being. In the truest sense of the Jesuit ideal, our graduates strive to be 鈥渋ndividuals for others.鈥�
Joyce Knight, Associate Dean of Student Academic Affairs & Advising, reflects on 41 years of service at 黑料门and beyond
Joyce Knight, DMin, joined 黑料门University Chicago in 1981 as a clerk in the registrar鈥檚 office. Forty-one years since her first day on the Lake Shore Campus, Knight has become a linchpin of student life and academic success in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). As the Associate Dean of Students Academic Affairs & Advising in CAS, Knight鈥檚 day-to-day consists of meeting with students, overseeing a team of academic advisors, and collaborating with members of the College鈥檚 leadership to ensure students鈥� needs are understood and met. But Knight is known, respected, and loved for going above-and-beyond in support of her colleagues and student advisees. It鈥檚 what has earned her multiple awards during her time at Loyola, including the Kay Egan Staff Member for Others Award, the Dux Mirabilis Award from the Board of Trustees, Staff Member of the Year, and the Got Your Six Award from Loyola鈥檚 Rambler Battalion and Veterans.
鈥淛oyce Knight truly exemplifies the Jesuit mission of cura personalis, or care for the whole person,鈥� said Peter J. Schraeder, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at 黑料门University Chicago. 鈥淗er steadfast devotion to supporting the College鈥檚 diverse student communities throughout their academic journeys and beyond is just one facet of her extraordinary legacy defined by her commitment to service, advocacy, and Ignatian spirituality.鈥�
Read on to learn more about Knight and what makes her an invaluable voice in the College of Arts and Sciences.
How did you begin your journey at 黑料门University Chicago and the College of Arts and Sciences? What made you stay all these years?
I was looking for a local job at the time and I lived right down the street from Loyola鈥檚 Lake Shore Campus. I never thought that I would end up with a career and stay for 41 years. I started as clerk in the Office of Registration and Records. A decade later, I came to the College of Arts and Sciences鈥� Office of the Dean as the Senior Evaluator processing graduation applications. I soon discovered that the graduation process should be coupled with sitting down and meeting with students. So, I started meeting with seniors, which is how the College鈥檚 academic advising services came to be. Since then, I鈥檝e led and grown our practice into a team of ten advising both juniors and seniors to meet students鈥� needs and support their success far beyond just graduation applications.
There are many reasons why I鈥檝e stayed at Loyola, but it really comes down to the phenomenal people who work alongside me and the University鈥檚 Jesuit mission. Loyola鈥檚 Ignatian values really resonated with me and connected with my studies in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries.
How has your role and approach to advising changed over the years?
My role, at its core, is about shepherding students through all of the advising processes and getting them what they need to succeed academically. But, the pandemic has caused a shift in what our students expect and need from our advising team. Many of our current students experienced their first years of college in a remote setting, which didn鈥檛 lend itself to helping students build connections and resiliency. They need more time, support, and TLC than ever, beyond just academic advising. In response, we鈥檝e shifted our approach to help connect students with the resources and care they might need, particularly when it comes to mental health. This is especially true with juniors and seniors, who are starting to think about their lives beyond Loyola. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 so grateful that our advising team is includes sociologists, psychologists, and social workers, because our students need those extra skillsets right now.
Overall, I think students are feeling stuck, but they also really want to be unstuck. They are eager to succeed and achieve some sense of normalcy. There鈥檚 just a gap that we need to help them jump over. We want to help them get ready to take flight and do great things.
In what ways have you become involved with service and advocacy within Loyola鈥檚 community?
I鈥檝e been able to serve on a few committees throughout the college. One example that鈥檚 really important to me is my work on the Dreamer Committee, which meets to see how we can support Loyola鈥檚 undocumented students. We鈥檝e done some activism, such as letter writing, asking our legislators to support students impacted by DACA. In addition to that, I encouraged the entire academic advising team, myself included, to gain Ally training to better support our undocumented students.
I have also been part of a few Ignatian committees to try and turn Loyola鈥檚 Jesuit mission into something concrete for people, like who St. Ignatius is, what his story means, and why we should care. I鈥檓 also involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on campus. More recently, I鈥檝e become involved with Loyola鈥檚 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which were kicked off earlier this semester. I鈥檓 on a few committees to integrate DEI values and practices throughout the institution. Something that I loved doing was the Diversity Abroad Committee, which worked with the Office of International Programs to encourage more of Loyola鈥檚 students of color to study abroad. These efforts have been impacted by the pandemic, of course, but that鈥檚 something I鈥檓 really interested in reviving in the future.
Every advisor in the College has a 鈥渟pecial population,鈥� or focus area of students with common studies or backgrounds. One of my specialized populations is Loyola鈥檚 ROTC and veteran students. Their needs are very different from a traditional student, so I try to provide personalized support within and outside of work hours, like additional help with registration to ensure they are on track and meet the government鈥檚 requirements. If they have an event or an award ceremony, I try to attend or promulgate it for them. I also wanted to find a way for the College to honor and thank them for their past and future service. So, alongside college leadership, we created a red, white, and blue cord for these students to wear at graduation.
What motivated you to become so involved in Loyola鈥檚 communities beyond your 9-to-5 role?
To me, a 9-to-5 is boring, for one. I鈥檓 more interested in a vocation than a job. A vocation has more to it. As far as my involvement with mission, Dreamers, and DEI, it鈥檚 personal. This work is important to me because it speaks to a person鈥檚 basic rights as a human being. And it鈥檚 something I try to do outside of Loyola, too. Some years ago, I became involved with an organization called , which focuses on community activism. I wanted to bring this dimension of community activism into the workplace.
As far as my involvement with ROTC and veteran students, I have a special place in my heart for them. That comes from my parents, who were both World War II veterans. My mom was a lieutenant and my dad was a sergeant, so my mom had higher rank and reminded my dad of that all the time. I was an army brat growing up and I wanted to be in the military myself, but my parents wouldn鈥檛 let me go. But, my son went on to join the military and he鈥檚 a Desert Storm veteran. From Bosnia to Afghanistan to Iraq, I was his point-of-contact and his main support when something happened to him. And when he came home from his tours, he would tell me everything. It was really scary to experience as his mom, but I鈥檓 just glad I could be there for him. Being both a child and mother of veterans helped me understand what those in the military go through. They have unique needs and, especially because of the service they provide, they deserve the extra attention and support.
What has been the most challenging part of your time at Loyola?
Honestly, the pandemic was a giant kick in the head. I think that the whole world has some level of post-traumatic stress from experiencing the pandemic, but it鈥檚 been especially challenging for our students. It鈥檚 left a lot of scarring and I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 over yet. In many ways, my team and I are responsible for trying to help put those pieces together for our students while dealing with our own trauma and struggles, too. We all made it through the horrors of the initial stages, but lately, there has been a societal shift back to 鈥渘ormal鈥� when it isn鈥檛 normal yet. We鈥檝e all been encouraged to move on and forget, but how can we forget? Eventually, I think we will all come away better for it, but it鈥檚 going to take a lot of work.
What has been most rewarding?
My opportunity to connect with people from all over the world and from different backgrounds and challenges. What鈥檚 been very rewarding is seeing students who, for whatever reason, such as if they grew up poor or are people of color, have been told that they would never make it then go on to really succeed. One of those students, who keeps in contact with me, is the U.S. ambassador to a country in Latin America. Several have gone on to become doctors. One such doctor has kept in touch with me for years and I just went to his child鈥檚 baptism. It鈥檚 been so exciting to see these students defy the limits that were put on them, grow during their time at Loyola, and go on to really thrive.
What is on the horizon for you that you are excited about?
One thing I鈥檓 really excited for that I think will help me be better in my role and as a person overall is my upcoming year-long internship program in Spiritual Direction with Loyola鈥檚 Campus Ministry and Jesuit Community. I will be back in class with tons of readings, which will give me an idea of what the college experience is like for students these days. On top of that, part of the internship includes working with clients. One of my clients is a social work graduate student, one is an undergrad, and another is a layperson in my church. It鈥檚 just a great opportunity to keep my finger on the pulse of what鈥檚 happening in the souls and hearts of people at 黑料门and in my local community. And I鈥檓 excited to, hopefully, make a difference one person at a time, to help them make life better, connect more with God, and connect with themselves and their communities.
Do you have any words of wisdom or advice for those who may be looking to be more connected to their community?
My advice for students and staff is to get involved. For students, I wouldn鈥檛 suggest getting overly involved, like joining 50 clubs. Try out a few at the beginning of an academic year, see how it feels, and try to stick with one for the rest of the year. Explore something that you really like to do, particularly something that isn鈥檛 connected to your major.
As far as staff, there are so many opportunities to connect with our community. I recommend exploring groups like University Senate, Staff Council, or Campus Ministry. I also recommend looking at organizations outside of 黑料门in your local area, like soup kitchens, clothing drives, community activism, or teaching English as a second language. There鈥檚 so much possible 鈥� I taught English for ten years through ONE Northside.
All in all, just put yourself out there. You don鈥檛 get a do-over, so take that risk. You鈥檇 be surprised what could come of it.
黑料门 the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest of 黑料门University Chicago鈥檚 15 schools, colleges, and institutes. More than 150 years since its founding, the College is home to 20 academic departments and 37 interdisciplinary programs and centers, more than 450 full-time faculty, and nearly 8,000 students. The 2,000+ classes that we offer each semester span an array of intellectual pursuits, ranging from the natural sciences and computational sciences to the humanities, the social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. Our students and faculty are engaged internationally at our campus in Rome, Italy, as well as at dozens of University-sponsored study abroad and research sites around the world. Home to the departments that anchor the University鈥檚 Core Curriculum, the College seeks to prepare all of Loyola鈥檚 students to think critically, to engage the world of the 21st century at ever deepening levels, and to become caring and compassionate individuals. Our faculty, staff, and students view service to others not just as one option among many, but as a constitutive dimension of their very being. In the truest sense of the Jesuit ideal, our graduates strive to be 鈥渋ndividuals for others.鈥�