Mary Francis Knight. Photo from Facebook.

From Intercom:

NOVA mourns the sudden loss of our colleague, Mary Knight.

Knight, an adjunct professor at the Annandale and Loudoun campuses, was identified as one of the 12 victims who died in the senseless tragedy at the Washington Navy Yard on Sept. 16.

Knight, 51, worked in information technology at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) where she had recently been promoted.

NOVA President Robert Templin Jr., shared the sad news with faculty and staff. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary, her family, and everyone affected by this tragedy,” he said.

This fall was Knight’s first semester teaching at NOVA. She taught two information technology courses: software design and an introductory course in spreadsheet software.

“She had a strong background in computers and we were looking forward to the expertise she could bring to the classroom,” said Celeste Dubeck-Smith, business and public services dean at the Annandale campus. “The initial feedback from students was that they enjoyed her teaching and we were looking forward to having her with us for many semesters to come.”

She earned a master’s degree in computer resources and information management from Webster University. She received a bachelor’s degree from Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina, and an associate degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College, also in North Carolina.

Knight was born in Germany but grew up in Fayetteville. She is survived by her two daughters, Nicole Shuck and Danielle Knight, a NOVA graduate.

By: Contributing Author

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