In Memoriam: Genevieve Madeline Knight, 1939-2021

Genevieve M. Knight, a math educator who taught at Hampton University in Virginia and Coppin State University in Baltimore and was a distinguished professor for the University of Maryland System, died August 19 at Riderwood by Erickson Senior Living in Silver Spring, Maryland. She was 82 years old and had suffered a stroke.

Dr. Knight was a native of Brunswick, Georgia. She enrolled at Fort Valley State University in Georgia to major in home economics with the hope of becoming a dietician. But she switched gears and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She went on to earn a master’s degree at Atlanta University.

In 1963, Dr. Knight began teaching at what is now Hampton University. After teaching for three years, she decided to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Maryland College Park. After earning her doctorate, Dr. Knight returned to the faculty at Hampton University and remained there for 15 years.

In 1985. Dr. Knight joined the faculty at Coppin State University. In 1987, Dr. Knight was presented with the Outstanding Faculty Award for Mathematics and Mentoring of Minority Youth from the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In 1996, she was named the Wilson H. Elkins distinguished professor for the University of Maryland System.

She taught at Coppin State University for more than 20 years, retiring in 2006.