Three Knox faculty members were recently presented the Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence: Richard Stout, professor of economics, is the 2020 recipient; Elizabeth Carlin Metz, Smith V. Brand Distinguished Chair in Theatre, is the 2021 recipient, and Lynette Lombard, Chancie Ferris Booth Distinguished Service Professor of Art, is the recipient for 2022. The award recognizes sustained excellence and accomplishment in all areas of faculty life, including outstanding service to the College and profession, significant grants and honors, innovative teaching, and exemplary scholarly and creative work. Knox's Faculty Personnel Committee (FPC) chooses recipients of the award based on nominations from the faculty.

• Rich Stout arrived at Knox in 1981. He earned his bachelor of arts in economics from Wabash College in 1968 and a master of arts in economics from Northwestern University the next year. He served for six years in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged as a Vietnam veteran. Returning to his studies, Rich completed his Ph.D. in economics at Indiana University. A specialist in econometrics, statistics, and the economics of non-profits, Stout has been a regular contributor to the statistics program and instructor in the economics research course that is central to the experience of economics majors. He has served on committees that examine the impact of an educational program, the consequences of a budgetary decision, or the benefits of a policy proposal and contributed statistical data in order to ensure thoughtful decisions.
• Liz Carlin Metz came to Knox in 1994. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Roger Williams College in Theatre in 1976 and a master of fine arts in acting at Temple University. In addition to the many productions she has staged at Knox and the work she has dedicated to the success of Knox’s signature Repertory Theatre Term, as co-founder and artistic director of Vitalist Theatre, she has staged a number of productions in Chicago. She has served as director of the British Theatre and Cultural Studies Program at Roger Williams University and also as a co-leader of Knox’s London Arts Alive study-travel program. Knox’s Arts Administration program, which sprung from an unlikely collaboration between the arts and business programs, reflects this creative imagination to encourage all parts of the campus to be in conversation with each other. She has chaired the faculty personnel committee and faculty executive committee.
• Lynette Lombard, earned her bachelor’s degree at Goldsmith’s College, University of London, in 1976, a master of fine arts from the Yale University School of Art in 1989, and also studied at the renowned New York Studio School. Since she arrived at Knox in 1990, she has received the Phillip Green Wright-Lombard Prize for Excellence in Teaching and has chaired the Department of Art and Art History. Lombard's professional output as a painter has been prolific. Her works are shown in galleries nationally and internationally, such as the Museum of Modern Art in Mojacar, Spain; La Barquilla Gallery in Sorbas, Spain; The Figge Museum in Davenport, IA; Lohin Geduld Gallery, Westbeth Gallery, and The Painting Center, all in New York City; Artemisia Gallery in Chicago; and Newtownbarry House, Bunclody, Ireland. She has held prestigious artist residencies including the Chautauqua Institute School of Art, the Ox-Bow School of Art, and Mt. Gretna School of Art. She has been a visiting artist at Brandeis University, Rider University, Bethany College, Western Connecticut State University, and the International School in Montecastello di Vibio, Italy.