Education department welcomes Dr. Rhonda Knight

Dr. Rhonda Talford Knight, Assistant Professor in Teacher Education, is teaching her first semester here at Muskingum University this fall.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, she now lives in Pickerington with her two daughters and her husband. She drives to campus each school day, but to her it's worth it.

"Working with the students, I think that's the best part," says Knight. "Being able to work with students and know that I am pushing them to think about what they'll be doing in their classrooms one day. For me the best part about being a faculty member is the students, which is why I'm at Muskingum, I think, because they get that. I enjoy research, I enjoy the professional development of myself, but there's nothing like being able to take that and bring it back to the classroom and allow the students to be able to engage in it."

Not only does she enjoy the aspect of helping students reach their goals, she also enjoys the atmosphere of the campus.

"The students, the faculty, the atmosphere and the campus; I love all of it," said Knight. "I haven't been on a campus like this in a long time. I feel this commitment to the students. And you feel it, and I feel like when you feel things you also see it. I think that's the best part about Muskingum. It's just a great place to be! It feels good, it feels like home."

Two factors played into Knight's decision on teaching at Muskingum: the fact that the college is a liberal arts school and that it's a beautiful campus.

"Those were the two big factors," said Knight. "Then coming to the campus and meeting the faculty here, that solidified my choice."

Because Knight is a professor in the education department, education courses are a big part of Knight's involvement at Muskingum.

"I'm a middle childhood person so I'd probably put that in the forefront because having the understanding of teaching young adolescents is so important and once you have that, when you talk about teaching the different content areas I think it all comes together for you differently," said Knight. "I like being able to teach that course, that foundation of young adolescence so students can go on and really think about what that means for their content areas."

Knight is teaching four education courses this semester and is helping out with a fifth.

When she isn't teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, running, and reading.

"I have two daughters, a six and a seven-year-old, so when I think of hobbies, I enjoy spending time with them and my husband," said Knight. "We are a really close-knit family, so we do a lot together."

Before Muskingum, Knight previously taught at Capital University, Ohio University and had the opportunity to do some seminar work at the Ohio State University.

She is no stranger to the education world.

"I think I was called to it," said Knight. "Education is my second career. I was originally in the business world. I went to visit a friend in a classroom and I fell in love. And I thought ‘this is what I'm supposed to be doing.'"