Dr. Rhonda Knight, Coker College

Dr. Rhonda Knight is Professor of English in the Department of Communication, Language, Literature, and Religion at Coker College. She holds a PhD from Binghamton University, an MA from the University of Alabama, and a BA from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

In addition to English composition courses, Knight’s course responsibilities include medieval and early modern literature. She has published articles on varied medieval topics, including Gerald of Wales, Robert Mannyng, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Knight’s recent publications in popular culture topics include articles about the mystery writers Minette Walters, Martha Grimes, and Paul C. Doherty. She has also contributed to two collections that examine the television series Doctor Who.

Knight has participated in fellowships through the National Endowment for the Humanities, including the NEH Teaching Development Fellowship and the NEH Summer Seminar on Shakespeare and Performance. She has also been involved in round-table discussions at the American Shakespeare Center and the International Medieval Congress.

An advocate of undergraduate student research, Knight has directed many students’ independent research on such topics as Sherlock Holmes and gender, the writings of medieval women, and the novels of John Lee Carré. This advocacy for undergraduate research can be seen in Knight’s leadership in the development and continuation of the 10th annual Coker Humanities Undergraduate Conference, which brings together undergraduate students and faculty from across the state for research presentations and discussions. Through Knight’s leadership, Coker is one of four liberal arts colleges selected to participate in a Teagle Foundation Grant that purposefully encourages the incorporation of liberal arts content in business courses.