“Professor Andrew Knight was my first instructor into the whole new experience of coming to study in the US and it was truly delightful and positive. I remember he got cookies for us in class and was very down-to-earth and approachable. Most importantly he was our Knight in shining armor when we had a slight hiccup before going for our Global Immersion and I truly appreciate him listening to all our views and ensuring we had a positive experience at the Global Immersion and beyond. Thank you, Professor Knight!” Nikitha Nair, MBA 2024
Where did you grow up?
I moved around quite a bit, spending time in San Antonio, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri; and a small rural town in Southern Ohio called Lynchburg. To get our mail each day we had to stop at the Post Office and a major event when I was a teenager was our town getting its first stoplight!
Outside of Olin, what are some of your interests?
I love spending time with my family. My partner Lauren is an artist and avid gardener whose work can be seen at a shop that focuses on local artists—Union Studio. Our three boys are quickly growing up—Milo is 16, Oliver is 14, and Emil is 13. They attend University City Schools and play soccer throughout the Fall.
And, I can’t forget the other two members of our family—Rosie and Tacocat (who we also refer to as “Big Beauty” because of her…girth).
You can often find us out in the parks and on the trails around St. Louis hiking and foraging for mushrooms. Each summer one or more of the kids and I tackle a multi-day backpacking trip. This summer Emil and I hiked a 60-mile loop in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest.
We are also a family that loves music. Our three kids play in a rock band together (and I try to live my rock band dreams in an old-man group with my neighbors). We like to ham it up—here is our family rocking out for a holiday photo:
Other than backpacking and music, I also enjoy getting out and running around St. Louis. Forest Park is such a treasure, with its year-round beauty and many miles of trails and paths. From time-to-time, I run with other Olin faculty, staff, and students. We have a running group on Strava to coordinate runs—anyone is welcome to join the group and sync up for a run in the area.
“Andrew Knight is a one-of-a-kind professor and instructor. His manner in the classroom brings the entire class into the discussion easily and without fear of being wrong. His enthusiasm for teaching and instructing is contagious, he makes you want to lean in and not miss a word of what he is saying. The balance he strikes between instruction and experiential classroom time is one that is hard to find – yet he does this seemingly effortlessly. Having led multiple teams for several years prior to coming into the MBA program, I was hesitant that I would learn anything that hasn’t already been in practice in my organization. I was wrong, Andrew taught me new and unique ways of leading teams and creating processes for harboring create thoughts and turning those into actionable tasks.” Buddy Foster, MBA 2024
“Andrew was the first professor I had the privilege of learning from during my time at WashU. Whether it was in-person lectures, breakout groups, or prerecorded lectures, Andrew’s passion and energy were contagious. Andrew’s excitement about helping students like me become better leaders and communicators was evident from the moment I met him. Andrew’s dedication to fostering exceptional teamwork and communication skills among myself and other students truly set the foundation and expectations for my time at WashU. Andrew instilled the importance of collaboration, empathy, and effective interaction – skills that are invaluable not just in business but in life. Andrew always has a smile on his face whether it be inside or outside the classroom. He set a standard of positivity that has greatly influenced my learning experience. Andrew’s ability to radiate passion and joy is truly remarkable and I know it will continue to have a lasting impact on me long after my MBA journey is complete.” John Badgett, MBA 2024