About the Knight Distinguished Visitors Program
The Knight Distinguished Visitors Program is supported by the R.G. and E.M. Knight Fund (The Knight Fund) to commemorate the lives and achievements of UM alumni Robert Greenwell Knight and Elizabeth Moore Knight, both of whom graduated from our university in the early 1920s. The Knight Fund places emphasis on enhancing the quality of higher education at the University of Manitoba and enriching its academic life by supporting visits from a wide array of outstanding thinkers and innovative leaders. The Knight Fund supports visits to the university by:
- Scholars in a variety of fields, including commerce, finance, economics, political studies, history, and literature;
- Leaders in the areas of commerce, industry, and government; and
- Outstanding achievers from other disciplines who have made distinguished contributions to the advancement of knowledge or to cultural, social, and economic development.
The Program is intended to be flexible with respect to the range of activities in which a Knight Distinguished Visitor may engage while at the university.
Funding and selection
The Knight Fund will defray all costs related to an approved visit. This includes travel, meals and accommodations, an honorarium commensurate with the duration of the visit for the Knight Distinguished Visitor, and the costs associated with the events and activities that are approved elements of the visit. In some circumstances, support for research and administrative assistance may be considered, although normally it is expected that this support will be provided by the nominating unit(s).
The duration of visits may vary from a few days to several weeks and a feature of the program is the delivery of a public lecture. It is customary for the university also to host a dinner in honour of the Knight Distinguished Visitor.
Nominations are adjudicated by members of the Advisory Committee for the Knight Fund, who are appointed by the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manitoba.
Nominations are assessed on the degree to which the proposed visit is in accordance with the purpose of the fund.
Past visitors
BASS, Dr. Hyman
Professor of Mathematics
Columbia University
BOYLE, Dr. Phelim
Professor of Finance
Wilfrid Laurier University
BRENNAN, Dr. Geoffrey
Professor of Economics at Australian National University (ANU)
Research Professor of Political Science at Duke University and
Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
BRZUSTOWSKI, Dr. Thomas A
RBC Professor
Telfer School of Management
CALAMAI, Peter
National Science Reporter
Toronto Star
CUMINGS, Bruce
Gustavus F. and Ann M. Swift Distinguished Service Professor in History
University of Chicago
DEGRASSE TYSON, Dr. Neil
Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium.
DIANGELO, Dr. Robin
Affiliate Associate Professor of Education
University of Washington
FISHBEIN, Dr. Martin
Harry C. Coles Jr. Distinguished Professor in Communication
and Director of Health Communication Program
Public Policy Center of the Annenberg School for Communication
University of Pennsylvania
ELSON, Dr. Diane
Professor
Centre for Research in Economic Sociology and Innovation
Department of Sociology
University of Essex
and Member of the Human Rights Centre
University of Essex
FONTAINE, Phil
National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
FOX KELLER, Dr. Evelyn
Professor of History and Philosophy of Science
Department of Science, Technology, and Society
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
GARNEAU, Dr. Mark
Canada's First Astronaut in Space
HÖhle, Dr. Barbara
Professor for Psycholinguistics
Language Acquisition Department of Linguistics
University of Potsdam
KAMBA, Dr. Walter
Vice-Chancellor
University of Zimbabwe South Africa
LEGGETT, Sir Anthony
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Chair
University of Illinois
Nobel Laureate in Physics
MARTIS, Eternity
Assistant Professor of Journalism
Toronto Metropolitan University
Journalist and author
MINDESS, Dr. Sidney
Professor of Civil Engineering
University of British Columbia
MUSTARD, Dr. Fraser
Founding President and Fellow
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
PETROSKI, Dr. Henry
Professor of Civil Engineering
and Professor of History
Duke University
RICE, Dr. Eugene
Director of the Forum on Faculty Roles and Rewards
American Association for Higher Education
SINCLAIR, The Honourable Justice Murray
Chair
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
SORENSEN, Professor Vibeke
Professor of Film and Media Studies
and Fellow in the Center for Film and Media Research
Arizona State University
VON KLITZING, Dr. Klaus
Director at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Physics Stuttgart
Germany
Nobel Laureate in Physics
WILLIAMS, Professor Jody
Founder, International Campaign to Ban Landmines
Founding Chair, Nobel Women’s Initiative and
Sam and Cele Keeper Endowed Professor of Peace and Social Justice
University of Houston
Nobel Peace Laureate
WOLFE, Dr. Alan
Professor of Political Science
and Director, Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life
Boston College
ZEMON DAVIS, Dr. Natalie
Professor of History
Princeton University
Call for nominations
Nominations for the 2023-2024 Knight Distinguished Visitor are now closed.
Nomination process
Nominations of individuals as possible Knight Distinguished Visitors may be made by any member of the university but must include a signed endorsement letter provided by the head of the unit (dean, director, department head) in which the nominee’s expertise lies. Joint endorsement by two or more units would be appropriate where the nominee’s expertise and interests cross disciplinary boundaries.
The complete nomination procedure involves two steps as follows:
a) Submit a preliminary nomination
Complete the preliminary nomination form in full and submit supporting documentation required, as identified below and in the form. The preliminary nomination should include:
- Endorsement letter(s) from the head or heads of units in which the nominee’s expertise lies;
- Biographical background of the nominee, including a description of the distinctive nature of their achievements;
- The specific objectives and duration of the proposed visit and the benefits to be derived from it;
- A proposed program of activities and events; and
- An initial estimated budget for the visit, including the anticipated honorarium for the nominee.
Preliminary nominations are now closed and are in the process of being reviewed by the Advisory Committee.
If you have questions about the nomination process, please contact Kelsey Evans at kelsey.evans@umanitoba.ca or 204-430-1846.
b) Submit a final proposal
When timing becomes more certain, the nominators of an approved nominee will be asked to submit a final proposal, setting out in more specific terms the details of the visit, including the dates of the visit, updated budget, and a schedule of activities.
Please note, nominators should not inform nominees of their selection until they have received approval from the Advisory Committee. Invitations to persons selected by the Advisory Committee as approved prospective visitors will be issued by the President who may, if appropriate, enlist the assistance of the nominator. The timing of visits will be determined based on dates that are mutually acceptable to the President and the Knight Distinguished Visitor.
Upcoming lectures
There are no upcoming lectures at this time.