President Bobbie Knight
Bobbie Knight, J.D., made history in August 2019 when she was appointed interim president of Miles College, becoming the first woman to lead the institution since its founding in 1898. On March 5, 2020, she was elected the fifteenth permanent president of the historic HBCU following a distinguished 37-year executive career at Alabama Power, where she served in senior leadership roles, including Vice President of the Birmingham Division, Vice President of Public Relations, and General Manager of Supply Chain.
Since assuming the presidency, Knight has led Miles College through a period of unprecedented institutional growth. The College has experienced a 2,000% increase in gifts and grants from federal, state, local, and nonprofit sources. Early in her tenure, she secured the largest single donation in the institution’s history.
Knight guided Miles College through its 10-year reaffirmation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), resulting in reaffirmation with zero findings. The College also maintains key accreditations through CAEP, the Alabama State Department of Education, the Council on Social Work Education, and ACBSP, strengthening academic rigor and program quality.
Under her leadership, Miles College has expanded its academic and innovation footprint. The institution launched a state-of-the-art E-gaming Center, an Apple-powered Communications Lab, and an Apple-powered Music Production Lab. The 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization, and Growth was established to support entrepreneurship and align the workforce. In Fall 2025, Miles will launch its inaugural graduate program, formally establishing the College’s first Graduate School and expanding access to advanced degrees.
Knight has also elevated the College’s national technology partnerships. Miles signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with NVIDIA, positioning the institution to expand access to high-performance computing, artificial intelligence education, and advanced research capacity. This partnership strengthens workforce pathways and ensures students are prepared to compete in emerging industries.
She has cultivated partnerships with leading corporations and agencies, including FedEx, Regions Financial, Microsoft, Apple, Honda, the NFL, the FBI, the CIA, the National Science Foundation, and the Propel Center, among others, expanding internship pipelines, research opportunities, and career placement outcomes for students.
In 2023, Knight was elected to the Alabama Power Board of Directors, becoming the first retiree invited to serve on the board. Her civic leadership includes service on numerous boards and community organizations throughout Birmingham and the state of Alabama.
Knight is a graduate of the University of Alabama and the Birmingham School of Law and completed executive leadership studies at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She holds honorary doctorates from Miles College and Samford University and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Omega Chapter.
A passionate advocate for mentorship and leadership development, Knight remains deeply committed to expanding opportunities for young men and women across Alabama and beyond. She is married to Gary Burley, retired NFL player, philanthropist, and founder of ProStart Academy.
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