Melissa Knight MAOB
Associate
Melissa Knight brings a strong background in the field of organizational psychology with a keen focus on the positionality of women working, leading and thriving within the business, public and nonprofit sectors. She founded Knight Consulting, an organizational consulting, training and development company with a focus on capacity building for nonprofit agencies in 1991.
A nationally-certified trainer (BoardSource and Achieve Global), specializing in diversity, strategic planning, communication and fund development, her work with nonprofit agencies has focused on key areas essential to program growth and sustainability: program design, development and evaluation, fund development, grant research, writing and administration, executive coaching, succession planning, human resources recruitment, training and retention. Additionally, Ms. Knight’s expert legislative advocacy and analysis, market research, media relations and event planning experience gleaned through 20 + years of executive experience and consulting in these fields, further benefits clients and their stakeholders.
Ms. Knight will be completing a doctorate in Organizational Development at Alliant International University in 2010, holds a Master’s in Organizational Behavior from the California School of Professional Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism / Public Relations from California State University, Fresno. Ms. Knight has been a faculty member for the Women’s Studies Program in the College of Social Sciences at California State University since 1999.
Community service is an integral part of Ms. Knight’s life. As a parent of a young adult woman with Down Syndrome, she has focused much of her grassroots community work with organizations involved in improving the lives of children and families. Over the years, she has served on multiple state, county and city boards and commissions, and on the board of directors of several human service nonprofit organizations focusing on issues pertaining to children and families. She is passionate about civil rights for all people, and works diligently to that end on behalf of persons with disabilities, women, people of color, disadvantaged youth, and poor/indigent and homeless persons.