Bios
Knight Commission (photo)
Co-Chairs
Dr. Carol A. Cartwright
President Emeritus, Kent State University and Bowling Green State University
Arne Duncan
Former U.S. Secretary of Education
Members
Dr. Eric Barron
President, Pennsylvania State University
Pamela Bernard
Vice President & General Counsel, Duke University
Dr. Christine Copper
Faculty Athletics Representative and Professor, United States Naval Academy
Dr. Scott Cowen
President Emeritus, Tulane University
Michael Crow
President, Arizona State University
Dr. Walter Harrison
President Emeritus, University of Hartford
Dr. Christopher Howard
President, Robert Morris University (Pittsburgh, PA); Former Football Player, U.S. Air Force Academy
Derek Kerr
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, American Airlines
Shanteona Keys
WBCA Manager of Education; Former Women’s Basketball Player, Georgia College
Penelope Ward Kyle
President Emeritus, Radford University
Jonathan Mariner
Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Major League Baseball
Jacques McClendon
Director, Player Engagement, Los Angeles Rams
Anna Spangler Nelson
Chairman, Spangler Companies Inc.; Member, UNC Board of Governors
Dr. G.P. “Bud” Peterson
President, Georgia Institute of Technology
Jill Pilgrim
Principal Owner, Pilgrim & Associates
David Robinson
Co-Founder and Principal, Admiral Capital Group, Former NBA Player and Former Men’s Basketball Player, U.S. Naval Academy
Peter Roby
Director of Athletics and Recreation, Northeastern University
Paul Tagliabue
Former NFL Commissioner; Member, Georgetown University Board of Directors
Nicholas Zeppos
Chancellor, Vanderbilt University
Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher
Chancellor Emeritus, State University of New York
Member, Ex-Officio
Alberto Ibargüen
President and CEO, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Founding Co-Chairs (photo)
Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.
President Emeritus, The University of Notre Dame, Founding Co-Chair, 1989-2001
William C. Friday
President Emeritus, University of North Carolina, Founding Co-Chair, 1989-2005
Past Chairs/Co-Chairs
Thomas K. Hearn Jr. – Chair, February 2005 – May 2006
Clifton R. Wharton Jr. – Co-Chair, May 2006 – April 2007
R. Gerald Turner – Co-Chair, May 2006 – Dec. 31, 2015
William E. “Brit” Kirwan – Co-Chair, April 2007 – Dec. 31, 2015; Chair, Jan. 1, 2016 – Dec. 31, 2016
Staff
Amy P. Perko
Chief Executive Officer
Scott Hirko
Associate, Communications and Research
Consultants
Jeff Orleans
Attorney, Hirschfeld Kraemer
JoJo Rinebold
Principal, The Rinebold Company
Todd Turner
Founder & President, Collegiate Sports Associates