Sandy McKnight: Staff member and UNT education major focusing on her future

		Sandy McKnight, administrative assistant in the Office of the Associate Vice President for Research and Transfer Technology and a UNT education major, spent three years working in UNT's Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism before moving to her current position.oma City bombing site

Sandy McKnight spent most of her life raising her two children. Now that they are grown, she's learning more about herself and says UNT affords her that opportunity.

McKnight — administrative assistant in the Office of the Associate Vice President for Research and Transfer Technology and a UNT education major planning to graduate in May — was born in McKinney.

She says her grandmothers taught her at a young age to cook and to make crafts, which she still enjoys today. She names both women as her role models.

"I got a little of both of them," she says.

McKnight, who's been married since 1980, spent 20 years attending ball games, cheerleading camps, dance lessons and field trips for her children, Will and Brandi.

"I tried to make certain they each received a good education and experienced everything possible," she says.

Her efforts paid off well. College graduate Will works at Lockheed Martin, and Brandi is studying education at UNT. In fact, she plans to walk across the commencement stage in May — just in front of her mother.

In 2000, after both children had completed high school, McKnight began working as an administrative assistant in the Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism, a job she left in October to accept her current position.

"Sandy cares about other people first and foremost; that's clear in all of her actions," says Richard Wells, professor of journalism. "She was a valuable team member in the journalism department and the Mayborn. Now she will be a valuable team member in UNT's research efforts. That makes her a major player for the university."

McKnight's new supervisor, Don Henley, associate vice president for research and technology transfer, also praises her performance.

"She's outgoing, bright. She's great at articulating what you need before you need it done and doing it before you ask her to. She's just great," he says.

McKnight is enthusiastic about the new UNT Research Park.

"It is so exciting to be there from the ground up. This is going to do so much for UNT," she says. "My new place is full of new challenges and excitement."

Once she receives her degree, McKnight plans to continue to focus on her career and hopes to travel to Ireland and possibly the Caribbean.

"I got my No. 1 priority out of the way: raising my kids," she says. "That kind of freed up time and allowed me to consider my future."

BY ROBIN FLETCHER ucmedit1@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT to present gala celebration Feb. 14 to honor 50 years of desegregation
• Academy wins federal funds
• Gift creates UNT euphonium endowment
• Equity, diversity workshop set
• Staff Council discusses insurance changes
• New UNT research center uncovers secrets of plants
• UNT performance of oratorio set for Jan. 29
• UNT to present films from eight countries during series
• Markley accepted into Leadership Texas
• 'Star man' fronts musically diverse band Crawfish

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