DOVER (October 21, 2008) ? DSU acting President Claibourne D. Smith announced today the appointment of DeChanta P. Knox, a former MBNA executive, as a Special Assistant to the President for Athletics.
Dr. Smith's announcement comes after the resignation earlier this month of former Athletics Director Rick Costello, who left DSU to accept a position at Rutgers University.
Dr. Smith said that Ms. Knox brings a special set of management and fiscal skills that will strengthen athletics operations in preparation for the next Athletics Director.
"DSU is very fortunate to bring in such executive caliber while the University conducts a thorough AD national search," Dr. Smith said. "I believe the end result will be the enhanced performance of all athletics operations.
A 1985 graduate of Howard University, Ms. Knox arrives with a wealth of career experiences in leadership capacities that included expertise in organizational development, training, performance reengineering, strategic and fiscal planning and many other areas.
At DSU, Ms. Knox will assess the department's strategic plan and recommend any revision or updates. She will be responsible for the Athletics' fiscal operations and review all policies and job descriptions. She will also oversee all the department divisions, all compliance requirements, as well as work to develop an improved framework for creating diversified revenue streams among other duties. She will report directly to the DSU acting president.
Prior to starting her new DSU post, Ms. Knox spent the last two years as the principal consultant for DPK Services, LLC in Hockessin, Del. Among the DPK project successes she achieved were the overhauling of a non-profit group that resulted in improvements in its recruitment and financial management, as well as strengthening the financial and operational position of another non-profit organization.
Prior to DPK, Ms. Knox served in a progressive number of leadership positions with MBNA America from 1988 to 2006. Her posts included several executive vice president directorships in the customer satisfaction areas of consumer finance and unsecured lending, as well as in Sales Finance Partner Education. In 1996, she also represented MBNA on a Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware capital campaign in which she developed and managed a fundraising event that generated $128,000 ? by far a record event for that organization.
Ms. Knox is also a former track field star in the state of Pennsylvania and at Howard University. She was a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association champion in the 100 and 200 meter dashes as well as an anchor in the 400 and 1600 meter relay for four consecutive years. (1978-81). She was the 1984 International Track and Field Champion from Howard University and that same year Ms. Knox represented the United States as a 100-meter dash competitor in the 1984 Olympics in California. She currently is a USBF and National Bodybuilding champion, model and trainer.
Her tenure with the University will begin on Oct. 27 and will continue until a permanent AD is selected.
