Business Professor Dr. E. Allen Knight Passes Away

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of beloved SAU faculty member Dr. E. Allen Knight. 

For the past 15 years, Dr. Knight faithfully served Spring Arbor University, first as the Director of the Hosmer Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and then in various roles teaching business, leadership, organizational management, marketing, and entrepreneurship within the Gainey School of Business. Prior to coming to SAU, Dr. Knight spent over 25 years in book and music publishing, logistics and distribution, and wholesale and retail operations, along with extensive consulting experience.

Being a lifelong learner himself, Dr. Knight completed his Doctorate of Business Administration degree from Anderson University with an emphasis in management and a concentration in leadership in his mid-fifties. Earlier in his life, he received his MBA from Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, IL, and his BS in Business from Milligan College outside of Elizabethton, TN.

Dr. Knight exemplified the Spring Arbor University Concept through his passion for the study and application of the liberal arts, and was a two-time winner of SAU’s Teaching Excellence Award. Besides the business discipline, his favorite subjects included philosophy, economics, music, and history. He believed in his students and their talents, and inspired them to impact the workplace with their Christian faith along with their knowledge and skills in the profession. He always challenged his students to expand their thinking and to put stewardship and servanthood at the center of all they do. 

Dr. Knight will be cherished for his great sense of humor, his passion, and the Christ-like love he showed to those around him. He always made time to express his care and respect to each of his students and to get to know them at a personal level. As their academic adviser and professor, he was concerned about his students’ spiritual growth as much as their academic excellence and career development. He will be deeply missed.

Even as our campus grieves for Allen’s family and the earthly loss of our dear friend, professor, and colleague, we stand firm in the unwavering hope that nothing – not even death – can separate us from the love of Christ, and today Allen is home in the loving arms of his Savior and King. 

“For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

A funeral and celebration of life service will be held for Dr. Allen Knight on Saturday, December 17 at The Arbor Church. The funeral will be at 1pm with the celebration of life service immediately following at 2:30pm.

Please join the Spring Arbor University community as we pray for Dr. Knight’s wife, Barbara, and his four children, Eddie, Catherine, Arielle, and Brandon, during this difficult time.