Knight sheds light on studies, life

Hopkins's history program is ranked within the top ten of the nation. The Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Professor of History, Franklin Knight, brings an already-prestigious program to another level.
Full of passion, wit, sarcasm and humor, Knight has been educating Hopkins students on Latin American and Caribbean history for forty years. He specializes in the late colonial period in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Although Knight has been teaching at Hopkins since 1973, he did not always know that this would be his future and entered college uncertain about his career.
"I sort of backed into history and liked Latin America and the Caribbean," Knight said. "I am going to say, I hope it's not flippant, but by accident."
As to what job he wanted, Knight was only certain of one thing.
 "[I knew that I wanted to] not work or work the least possible and not pay taxes, and I didn't quite succeed at that," Knight said.
He was, however, successful in his education.
After growing up in Jamaica, Knight moved to the United Kingdom for boarding school.
"Most of my life was in British public-style boarding school," Knight said.
Outside of academics, he played numerous sports.
"I was quite an athlete as a kid. I ran pretty well, I played cricket, tennis for a little while, field hockey, all before I started drinking," Knight said.
After boarding school, Knight went on to graduate from the University College of the West Indies-London. He then earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Knight enjoyed the University of Wisconsin but had little praises for the Wisconsin climate.
"I hated the weather, the location was frightful, and I have still not caught on to Wisconsin people," Knight said. "I think they are peculiar."
He does, on the other hand, share many praises for fine food and beverage, two of his other passions.
"I eat a lot and drink a lot, far too much," Knight said. "I love to eat."
Knight is passionate about good food and drink. He even teaches a seminar which covers various rums of the Americas.
As an undergrad, Knight also pursued another one of his passions, Latin American culture. After accepting a paid trip from the British education system, Knight ended up in Mexico for a term.
"The British undergrad system before Margaret Thatcher was different and allowed undergraduate students to travel around the world at the university's expense," Knight said.
"They give you a round-trip ticket to anywhere in the world you could justify was relevant to your study," Knight said. "That's how I got to Mexico."
Later, Knight joined the Hopkins faculty because of the culture he observed.
"I was attracted to Hopkins because I think it really was an intellectual community," Knight said.
"The serious students here are very serious and it's a pleasure to work with students who are prepared to think and really do so."
Knight is a favorite among students and is currently a finalist for the 2011-2012 Excellence in Teaching Awards. His teaching style is unique in the history department.
"I focus on ways to think clearly, logically and coherently rather than merely to memorize, store and reproduce information," Knight wrote in an email to The News-Letter. "I also try to communicate the excitement of learning."
When it comes to learning, Knight believes undergrads should supplement their studies with better advising. He strongly believes in exploring relationships with professors and finding mentors at Hopkins.
"Undergraduates could be much more proactive in getting better advising," Knight said. "It doesn't have to be just one formal advisor. . .I have had a great number of mentors throughout my professional life," Knight said. "I have a wonderful circle of close friends and confidants in my Ford Fellows associates."
In addition to better advising, Knight believes Hopkins students should explore Baltimore and the D.C. area more extensively.
His top must-see sites in Baltimore range from the Green Mount Cemetery to Fort McHenry. He also recommends the Railroad Museum and Fells Point.
After forty years, it seems that Knight has seen and done it all, and soon he will be retiring from Hopkins and teaching as a whole.
"I have way overspent my time," Knight said. "I see light at the end of the tunnel. I see my boat lifting anchor."
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