Dorothy Knoll, Ph.D.
Dean of Students
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
Born and raised in Hays, Kansas, Dr. Knoll earned a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Counseling from Fort Hays State University. She earned a Ph.D. in Counseling and Student Personnel from Kansas State University. After serving in a variety of capacities at Fort Hays State University, she came to the University of Kansas Medical Center in 1992 as the first Dean of Students.
During the course of her career, Dr. Knoll has received numerous awards. She has been honored with the KU Women of Distinction Award, KU Outstanding Staff Member, Volunteer of the Year, Spirit of Caring Award, United Way of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas, Pillar of the Profession, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Region IV-West James J. Rhatigan Outstanding Dean Award, and the NASPA Region IV-West Distinguished Service Award. The KU Medical Center students acknowledged Dr. Knoll as “their ally, supporting their projects and showing that you care.”
Dr. Knoll has two children, Victoria and Corbin. Her colleagues have heard stories about them ad nauseam. Dr. Knoll’s husband, Joe Beasley, after 15 years of marriage, still does not really know what she does, but he’s sure it’s a good thing. Dr. Knoll’s most recent joys are her granddaughters, Olivia and Ava. Now her colleagues can hear stories about Olivia and Ava ad nauseam.
Dr. Knoll believes that students’ needs are paramount, the instruction provided by faculty is the heart of a university and administrators represent the views of the campus to its many constituents. If ever she feels tired or disillusioned, she remains mindful of these three constituent groups and reminds herself that the “sum of the parts is greater than the whole”. She realizes that this last saying is reversed from the standard version. In her mind’s eye, each person, event, and experience in her life is far greater by itself, much less collectively, than her life experience as a whole. Each person/part is unique and warrants attention. She believes that when she begins to minimize a student or staff concern, she should look for another job.
