NC State’s Department of Health and Exercise Studies (HES) is set to enter a fresh chapter under new leadership.
Division of Academic and Student Affairs Vice Chancellor and Dean Doneka R. Scott recently announced that Amy Knab will assume leadership of HES as its new department head, effective August 11.
“Amy’s collaborative leadership style, combined with her expertise in both health advocacy and human performance, aligns well with our shared commitment to advancing wellness and experiential education at NC State,” Scott said.
Knab has spent the past 12 years working at Queens University in Charlotte, most recently as chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance and Faculty Council president.
Early on in the process, Knab saw a strong fit for herself with HES and NC State.
“When I saw the job description and what they were looking for, I thought I could do really well in this type of position,” Knab said. “I knew I was ready to find a position that afforded the opportunity to have a positive impact on more students in the future. We love living in North Carolina, and there are also a lot of opportunities for my family in Raleigh. But the more I read about the university and department, the more strongly I felt that I wanted to be a part of the future of this amazing department.”
Knab earned a Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Interdisciplinary Biology, concentrating on the biological factors that regulate physical activity behavior.
This area of study lent itself well to finding ways to improve physical wellness opportunities for students, leading to Knab contributing to the establishment of Queens’ Exercise and Sport Science undergraduate program.
“When thinking about a meaningful curriculum for students in the wellness space, there are so many “environmental” factors to talk about and, quite frankly, as we grew our programs at Queens, we saw a lot of opportunities for growth in different areas,” Knab said. “There are different wellness concerns that exist today that didn’t exist 30 years ago, and which our students are having to face. I am passionate about creating programming and curricula to help students become resilient in the environment that we’re now in.”
Among the factors that drew Knab to NC State was the university’s strengthened commitment to all elements of student wellness over the past several years.
Knab noted that multiple pillars of NC State’s strategic plan focus on student wellness, describing the university as a leader in the realm of student wellness.
“When I met with the faculty for my interview, it was very clear that they all share that passion; that they value the department’s foundation of serving all students at NC State through the general education program, and I wholeheartedly value and agree with this. However, we also share a vision for growth. I think NC State and this department have a unique opportunity to build upon its existing legacy of success, and to stand out as a leader in student wellness curricula.”
Knab is excited to begin working with the students and faculty at NC State, and to help HES continue to grow. She sees a great potential for successful collaboration through leveraging faculty expertise and the department’s current offerings to best serve the Wolfpack community.
“I enjoy working with people, especially if we have a collaborative end goal that we can all contribute to,” Knab said. “I think people find a lot of meaning and joy in that. Ultimately, if it’s serving our students, improving their outcomes and their overall student and learning outcomes, it’s a win-win for everybody.”
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