Dr. Fred Kniss, provost of Eastern Mennonite University, has announced plans to retire at the end of the 2023 fiscal year. He has served in the role since July 2009. (Photo by Derrick Chirinos)

Provost Fred Kniss announces his retirement

 Dr. Fred Kniss, provost of Eastern Mennonite University, has announced plans to retire at the end of the 2023 fiscal year. He has served in the role since July 2009.

In an announcement to the campus community, Kniss said he considers his years at EMU “to be the best of my 35-year career in higher education.”

An alumnus of 1979, he came to EMU from Loyola University Chicago, where he was professor, chair of sociology, and founder and director of the McNamara Center for the Social Study of Religion. Kniss also served one year as interim dean of Loyola’s graduate school.

“I am deeply grateful for the gift of being able to do meaningful work for an institution I love both as my alma mater and my place of employment,” Kniss said. “I have had the honor and privilege of serving two presidents, supporting their leadership during a time of major change for the university and for higher education in general. More significantly, I have had the sacred opportunity to support the success of students, faculty, and staff in a community of learning. I find deep joy in seeing others succeed and knowing that I played a role in helping that to happen.”

Kniss served under President Emeritus Loren Swartzendruber until 2017 and for the last five years with President Susan Schultz Huxman.

Provost Fred Kniss awards diplomas with President Susan Schultz Huxman at EMU’s 99th commencement ceremony Sunday, April 30, 2017.

“Provost Kniss has made substantial contributions, serving with special insight both to the academic mission and vision of EMU, as well as in effective facilitation of academic discussions outside of EMU,” said Huxman. “He’s actively advanced our unique community of learning into its second century, and positioned EMU in conversations on topics central to our place in the faith-based ecosystem, such as climate change, interfaith engagement and pedagogical innovation.”

Among other outreach, Kniss represented EMU within the Marpeck Fund, an organization to strengthen cooperation of the eight Mennonite colleges and universities by sharing of faculty resources and joint programming. 

Huxman also thanked Kniss personally. “I am hugely indebted to his astute advice and unwavering support these past five years,” she said.

Vice President for Enrollment and Strategic Growth Mary Jensen has worked closely with Kniss on development of new academic programs, especially in her former role as associate provost,  including a thriving undergraduate degree program in aviation, and new structures for graduate and professional programming. 

“Fred is a brilliant academician and dedicated leader whose legacy includes an outstanding faculty who prepare our students for success providing both academic excellence and caring support,” she said. “He is also a genuine and principled human being whose civility and collegiality have shaped the positive and productive environment that is EMU today.”

Provost Fred Kniss speaks at an event kicking off the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions in 2016.

Professor Mark Sawin, president of Faculty Senate from 2020-22, has similarly appreciated his close collaboration with Kniss in a series of challenging years. The provost brought frankness and honesty to difficult and complex situations, and approached issues with a consistent willingness to “find the best solutions to hard problems, even when those decisions weren’t popular.”

Sawin drew an analogy with the hot peppers that Kniss grows, and shares liberally, from his garden.

“His impressively potent hot sauce is enjoyed by many in EMU’s dining hall though few realize he’s the one who made it. I see that as a fitting analogy for his work at EMU,” Sawin said. “As the chief academic officer he was often presented with a field full of hot issues. He didn’t take the heat out of those issues, but he did try to convert them into something beneficial instead of hurtful—hard work that he often did without others ever noticing.”

Kniss has been a strong advocate for expansion of inclusivity, Sawin said. “I give him a lot of the credit for his behind-the-scenes work to help bring about EMU’s change in hiring policy, allowing us to embrace LGBTQ+ faculty and staff members. That was a long and difficult administrative process, and one that strained a lot of relationships, but Fred rightly saw it as a true issue of justice and thus continued to work for that important change. EMU is a better institution and lives more fully into its Christian mission of doing justice and loving mercy because of that work.”  

Provost Fred Kniss welcomes Fulbright Scholar Syafaatun Almirzanah with interim president Lee Snyder in 2016.

On campus, Kniss has been an influential leader and champion for interdisciplinary integration. He co-facilitated discussion around and implemented the plan for a new three-school academic structure that has enhanced innovative collaborations, increased budgetary efficiency, and streamlined undergraduate-graduate tracks, among other objectives. It was fully implemented in fall 2020. 

He has also been an advocate for student enrichment and formation by  increasing collaborations between academic and student life divisions with the addition of a new dean of students position. Kniss has also been instrumental in improving recruitment and retention of many outstanding and diverse scholars, teachers and artists that comprise the faculty and administrative staff of EMU.

During his tenure, EMU has made significant progress in efforts to achieve racial, ethnic, and religious diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Provost Fred Kniss, Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder (right) and retiring professor Walt Sarrat in 2016.

“We still have much work to do to move beyond nondiscrimination to true equity and inclusion, but we have made significant progress in laying the foundation and enhancing the educational experience of our students,” he noted.

Not one of these achievements at EMU was the result of his own work, Kniss said, but emblematic of the collective contributions of the community, including the president, other administrators, and key faculty and staff members. 

“Still, the fact that I was able to support, facilitate, and sometimes lead these important advances gives me great satisfaction as I anticipate retirement,” he said.

The national search for the next provost will begin shortly.

Huxman will appoint a search committee to select candidates for on-campus interviews. Members of the campus community, including faculty, staff, and students, will have the opportunity to provide feedback on each of the candidates, and input from all groups will be considered in selecting the next provost.

Discussion on “Provost Fred Kniss announces his retirement

  1. I love reading this about my son. So thankful that he was a real blessing to the school.
    Esther Kniss

  2. Accolades to you, Fred.
    Although my times of face-to-face interchange were relatively sparse during my time of teaching at EMU-Lancaster, your stalwart dedication in behalf of the Lancaster setting is noteworthy.
    May you experience an abundance of God’s grace and peace as you transition into new and old ventures that bring you a deep sense of fulfillment and joy.
    Glen Roth

  3. What a humbling honor and blessed encounter of knowing Provost Kniss, friend Fred —- Lake Institute of Faith and Giving has been the hub – a place to learn from one another, together — I certainly am gratefully cognizant of the qualities that Fred ‘s presence brought to light our teamwork of doing our best – what a journey in continuum since 2004!!
    Thank you for the opportunity for me to share my sentiments as I offer my congratulations, blessings and all the best to Dr. Fed Kniss, a wonderful retirement ahead, with family, friends and community ——— May it Continue to be “Blessedly-Busy”, in good health ,happiness and energy – God Willing ! Kindest personal regards —- Shakeela

  4. Well served, Fred. Your life is a reflection of who you are, serving in the name of Jesus. All the best to you in this next year and as you enter retirement.

  5. Well done, Fred. Working with you at EMU, even for a short time, was a real honor. Unflappable, wise and generous, you inspired us all by your dedication and love of the work. Over the long haul, your achievements have been remarkable and will not be forgotten. Enjoy this next season.

  6. Fred, when you were still happily at Loyola University Chicago, we spoke on the phone. You expressed hesitation about coming to EMU. I was delighted when you ultimately chose to return to your alma mater in a critical role. Thank you for your devoted, intelligent and sometimes sacrificial work. In my view, nobody could have done better.

  7. Thanks, Fred, for your good work as Provost for EMU these many years. You have helped develop the lives of many young adults for service in the world. Blessings as you move into the next stage of life.

    Paul M. Zehr

  8. Congratulations, Fred! We missed you in the Soc (& Anth) Dept at Loyola, but reading this article it is so clear that you have left a lasting legacy at EMU! So impressive! Bravo! Enjoy retirement! -Kathleen Adams

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