Clemson University will celebrate the career of L. Jerry Knighton, Jr., with a retirement reception on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the Barnes Center from 3:30-5 p.m. Faculty and staff are invited to attend.
Knighton, the associate vice president and equal employment opportunity officer/executive director of inclusive procurement, officially retired on November 30 after 35 years of service with the University. In his role, he was responsible for enterprise-wide compliance with the University’s Equitable Treatment Policies. He oversaw policy development, program implementation and served as the institutional liaison to state and federal agencies to ensure civil rights compliance. As EEO Officer, Knighton served on several boards including the American Association for Access Equity and Diversity (AAAED) and the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG).
In August 2018, he was also named executive director of inclusive procurement and was responsible for monitoring efforts to increase minority business participation.
Knighton graduated from the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Academy at Furman University in 2008 and served as Outreach and Special Projects Coordinator for Clemson’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) to increase minority business participation from 2007-08. Success at CU-ICAR led to the establishment of the Diversity Procurement Initiative, which expanded his efforts campus-wide.
Knighton served on the Carolinas Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) Board as Chair of the Upstate SC Regional Industry Needs Group. As a result of his leadership, Clemson was named “Corporation of the Year” by CVMSDC at its annual conference in August 2023. Additionally, Insight Into Diversity magazine honored Clemson with the 2021 and 2022 Jessie L. Moore Supplier Diversity Award for its accomplishments. In October 2024, Knighton was recognized by Diversity Plus Magazine among the top 25 Diversity Change Leaders for his work in supplier diversity.
Originally from Clinton, S.C., Knighton is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where he obtained both a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration.