The KnoxCast

Chieko Dunham '25 has taken the stage during dozens of performances for the Knox Jazz department as the lead vocalist. As a senior who just wrapped her final Rootabaga Jazz festival, we spoke with her about the impact of music on her time at the College, her love of English, and her plans moving forward.

In year two of this mini-series, Jaylen returned to the show to update us on his second year at Knox. He shared stories of getting used to campus life, an exciting study abroad opportunity in Japan, and his plans as he moves into year three. For those who haven't yet listened to episode one, we highly recommend you check it out before listening to part two.

Green Oaks is a major asset to the Knox community, and at the helm of this amazing space is Watson Bartlett Professor of Biology and Conservation Stuart Allison. Allison helped the College design a major renovation to Green Oaks, including remodeling Schurr Hall and a brand new teaching facility. He spoke with us about the process and why this incredible space keeps him returning.

Ilir Emini '16 has built a notable career in football since leaving Galesburg. After setting records as a wide receiver at Knox, he transitioned into coaching, following Lovie Smith from the University of Illinois to the Houston Texans, working with a fellow Knox football alum at Wofford, and now back in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. He spoke with us about his time as a Prairie Fire athl...

Among Knox's immersive term experiences, Rep Term stands as a cornerstone. Smith V. Brand Distinguished Professor of Theatre and Chair of Arts Administration Liz Carlin Metz and Professor of Theatre Craig Choma ’93 are starting work with their students on Rep Term 20, a major milestone in their storied careers. They spoke with us about the history of this amazing program and the significance o...

Alondra Damian ’25 and Tina Hope, director of campus sustainability initiatives, joined us to discuss the ongoing sustainability initiatives at Knox. With more opportunities for students and the wider community to participate every year, going green continues to be a key element of the Knox experience.

Knox College Vice President for Enrollment Nathan Ament is already hard at work recruiting for next year. His team worked hard to bring in a record-breaking Class of 2028, bolstering Knox's future. He spoke with us about the changes made to the College's admissions process and the special qualities that help showcase Knox to the world.

Coach Harley Knosher is nothing short of a Knox College legend. From having the Knosher Bowl named in his honor, to the installation of his bust outside the E. & L. Andrew Fitness Center, Coach is known around the community as a truly one-of-a-kind person. He chatted with us about his storied career and his long dedication to purple and gold.

For the season two finale, Elvith Santoyo-McNaught '13 has made a name for herself in Galesburg as a thriving entrepreneur. An alumnus of not only Knox but of the Gale Scholars program, she spoke with us today about her locally-focused career and the benefits of sticking to your roots.

In this new mini-series, we spoke with Jaylen Carwell ’27 about his first year at Knox, the admissions process and onboarding at the College, and his goals as a student. Each year, we'll follow up with Jaylen to document the process through all four years of his education.

Melvin Taylor II ’14 embodies the spirit of hard work at Knox. Grinding his way through networking opportunities over a decade, Taylor is currently finishing up work on his debut as a filmmaker and executive producer, "Baldy". He spoke with us about life in the industry and career goals down the line.

Over the last few years, The Knox Student has transitioned from a weekly newspaper to a biannual full-color news magazine with a heavier focus on digital content. TKS Advisor Jane Carlson came on board in 2021, the same year as current Editor-In-Chief Eleanor Lindenmayer '25. Together, they have worked to rebuild the staff and enhance the quality of journalism at Knox.

When Arsalan Bin Najeeb '20 came to Galesburg from Pakistan, he was amazed by the open skies. Now, years after graduating from Knox, he spoke with us about the experience of being an international student in the Midwest.

Maurice McDavid ’10 currently serves as principal for Turner Elementary School and assistant pastor at the United Pentecostal Church of DeKalb. He sat down with us to chat about his opportunity to speak at Knox's Martin Luther King, Jr Day Convocation, his life as an educator and pastor, and his memories of being a Prairie Fire student-athlete.

Terry Smith '63 isn't your average Knox alum. At this point, he's a part of American history. From helping NASA in its own control center to helping develop the original software for Auto-tune, he spoke with us about his amazing career and his recent trip to Knox to celebrate his 60th class reunion.

Knox alum Michaela Thawley '22 made a big impact during her time with the Prairie Fire. Now, she's taking her skills across the pond to play in Spain. She spoke with us about sports culture and tradition at the College, as well as her big future plans to continue playing the game that she loves. If you want to watch Michaela in action FC Malaga City Femenino broadcasts their home games her...

In part two of this two-part special, we sat down with local historian Rex Cherrignton to discuss the founding of Galesburg, the early days of Knox, and the many interesting people buried in Hope Cemetery. Enjoy an in-depth look at the history of Galesburg.

In this two-part special, we sat down with local historian Rex Cherrignton to discuss the founding of Galesburg, the early days of Knox, and the many interesting people buried in Hope Cemetery. Enjoy an in-depth look at the history of Galesburg. Photo Credit: John Heyer '68

JoAnna Novak '07 and John and Elaine Fellowes Professor in English Rob Smith have an interesting relationship. Smith was Novak's professor during her time at Knox. Currently, Novak has accepted her own teaching position and over the years, they have remained peers, each with their own writing careers. They sat down with us to discuss how Knox transforms writers and the many places those sk...

Visiting Instructor Emeritus of Educational Studies Joel Estes has spent many hours working alongside Knox students and Galesburg community members as the leader of the local Blessings in a Backpack chapter. He spoke with us about his Knox career and his recently published novel, "Stand."

Addison Anderson '23 was chosen to receive the Sarah Ida Shaw Award, Tri Delta’s most prestigious collegiate award. She was chosen out of 13,000 national sorority members and was officially named at the yearly Collegiate Leadership Conference. She spoke with us about her time at Knox and the importance of sorority life on campus.

Derrick Jackson and Tyrell Pierce are Knox's newest track and field All-Americans. Derrick has been rewriting the Prairie Fire record book in the short sprints, while Tyrell has been doing the same with the long sprints. They spoke with us about what it means to them to be running some of the fastest times in the nation while representing Knox College.

Joseph Taylor, Knox College assistant librarian for special collections and archives, has a role like no other. He spoke with us about the incredible pieces of Knox's history he's learned after sorting through piles of vintage texts and photos from years past. See some of the items discussed here .

Natasha Caudill '20 has become a TikTok star, amassing over 1.3 million followers and counting. Her content involves makeup, fashion, and most importantly, spreading awareness about her colorblindness and how it impacts her daily life. We spoke with Natasha about how her time on campus helped her transition into a life behind the camera.

Cortney Hill '17 embodies the Knox spirit. Following graduation, he decided to take his career in a number of exciting directions. From the film lots of California to his latest residence in New Zealand, Cortney has quite the tale to tell.