Love of Learning Inspires Trustee

Douglas Kniss '80 credits Susquehanna University with instilling in him "a lifelong sense of curiosity and love of learning."

After graduation, Doug's love of learning brought him to The Ohio State University, where he received his Ph.D. in anatomy and cell biology. It followed him to post-doctoral studies at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and back to Ohio State, where he started as an assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and eventually became founding director of the Laboratory of Perinatal Research. He has also served as the Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Director of the Campus Chemical Instrument Center during his tenure at Ohio State.

He earned tenure in five years and was promoted to full professor a few years after that. After 31 years as a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, including 14 years teaching, researching and mentoring in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Doug recently returned to research full-time after a short period of retirement.

Through all of his professional successes, Doug remembered his time at SU and the impact that his educators, such as biology professor Randolph Harrison and psychology professor Jim "Doc" Misanin, had on him as he was getting his start in academia.

"Both were instrumental in shaping and inspiring me," says Doug. "At Susquehanna, I fell in love with academic life."

In 2012, Doug joined the Board of Trustees and has served Susquehanna in a leadership capacity since. Doug's tenure on the Board has only strengthened his perception of the university and the opportunities created for first-generation and underrepre­sented students. He credits the university with providing state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Natural Sciences Center, to further student and faculty development. Doug also meets with biology and chemistry students several times throughout the academic year to provide his invaluable advice in career planning and decision-making.

In addition to sharing his time and talent to further Susquehanna's mission, Doug and his wife have made provisions in their estate plans to support Susquehanna through both a bequest in their will as well as a Charitable Remainder Trust. Through their planned gifts, Doug and Elizabeth - who goes by her middle name, Holly - will support two funds at Susquehanna.

The Douglas '80 and Holly Kniss Biology Professorship honors Doug's lifelong dedication to teaching by supporting a faculty member in the biology department. The Douglas '80 and Elizabeth Holly Kniss Faculty and Student Collaborative Research Endowment will support both faculty and students involved in biological and biochemical research at Susquehanna. In addition to providing funds for travel to conferences and needed research materials, it will also be used for student stipends to ensure that students facing financial hardship will be able to pursue research and continue to advance academically.

These gifts will contribute to Doug and Holly's enduring legacy at Susquehanna. Because both of the funds are endowed, they will provide support for students in the sciences in perpetuity.

"I am honored and proud to acknowledge the importance of Susquehanna in shaping my life through long-term estate planning," Doug adds.