Hartnell Community College District Names Dr. Rosslyn Knight Interim VP of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness, and Success
Veteran community college leader and Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow brings more than 20 years of experience in academic leadership, equity and student success to the Salinas Valley.
Hartnell College has named Dr. Rosslyn Knight as its Interim Vice President of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness, and Success, effective July 8, 2026, adding a nationally recognized community college leader with more than 20 years of experience in academic leadership, faculty development and institutional transformation to its senior team.
A 2025–2026 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow, Knight has held senior leadership roles at Guttman Community College (City University of New York), the Maricopa County Community College District and Rio Salado College. Her career reflects a deep commitment to equity, student success and institutional transformation at open-access institutions.
Knight began her community college career as an adjunct faculty member teaching ESL and developmental reading through online, correspondence and in-person modalities — a foundation that has shaped a career-long focus on student access and success. Her expertise spans K–12 education, developmental education reform, curriculum development and strategic planning, and she has brought a global perspective to her work through international teaching experience, in both K–12 and adult education, in West Africa.
Knight holds an Ed.D. in Community College Leadership from San Diego State University, an M.Ed. in Language and Literacy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Knight brings exactly the kind of experience and equity-driven leadership our students and community deserve. Her deep background in academic leadership and student success, paired with a national perspective, will help us continue expanding opportunity across the Salinas Valley. We are thrilled to welcome her to Hartnell.”
Michael Gutierrez, Hartnell College Superintendent/President
I am honored to join Hartnell College, an institution whose commitment to equity and student success mirrors my own. I look forward to working alongside the faculty, staff and community to build on Hartnell’s momentum and help every student reach their goals.”
Dr. Rosslyn Knight