About President Steven Knapp

Steven Knapp became the 16th president of The George Washington University on Aug. 1, 2007. A distinguished scholar with nearly 30 years of experience in higher education administration, Dr. Knapp previously served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at The Johns Hopkins University.

As president, Dr. Knapp’s priorities include enhancing GW’s partnerships with organizations and agencies throughout the nation’s capital, increasing the institution’s preeminence in research, addressing the affordability of higher education, and strengthening connections with its lifelong and worldwide community of alumni. He also has convened task forces on sustainability and campus safety and security.

A proponent of fostering close community ties, Dr. Knapp serves on the board of directors of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Greater Washington Urban League. He is a member of the executive committees of the Council on Competitiveness, Atlantic-10, and the Federal City Council. He also serves on the cabinet of the Chronicle for Higher Education and is a member of the Economic Club of Washington and the Committee for Economic Development.

A specialist in 18th- and 19th-century English literature and literary theory, Dr. Knapp served for 16 years on the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, where he held leadership positions in the Department of English and on university committees. Dr. Knapp earned a master’s degree and doctorate from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University. He and his wife, Diane, have two adult children, Jesse and Sarah.