Becky Canfield

Nearly five years after he met longtime Knox College staff member Becky Canfield, Oluwabamise Afolabi ’21 still clearly remembers the first time they crossed paths. He was a first-year student who’d just arrived on the Knox campus from his home in Nigeria, and she was carrying an armful of outdoor games, including a jumbo version of Connect 4.

He spotted her in Seymour Union and asked if she needed help. Sure, she said. Together, they loaded the games into Canfield’s truck. The games were destined for Galesburg’s Lake Storey recreational area, where Knox was hosting a cookout as part of new student orientation activities.

At the cookout, Canfield and Afolabi ran into each other again and chatted. She mentioned how impressed she’d been by his helpfulness—and then she invited him to her home for a family dinner.

It’s not unusual for Canfield to welcome Knox students to her home to share a meal or just hang out with her and her husband, Kip, their Giant Schnauzer, Jax, and other members of their family. She enjoys connecting with students, encouraging them during their years at Knox and beyond, and assisting them whenever she can.

“She tries as much as possible to make Knox home for students,” said Afolabi, who now works as a medical scribe in Davenport, Iowa.

“You can tell that she cares. You can tell that she really wants to help,” he added. “Even when she doesn't necessarily have the answers, she’s willing to connect you with someone who might be able to help you.”

Canfield joined the Knox community in September 1999, initially working as a security officer for Knox College Campus Safety. Since then, she has held various positions at the College, including in the Office of Human Resources and in the Office of the Dean of the College as an administrative assistant, the Division of Student Development as program coordinator for Intercultural Life and Spiritual Life, located in the HOPE Center, and she recently returned to the Office of the Dean of the College as an administrative assistant.

“There are so many different things that I've done, I'm familiar with just about every aspect of the College,” Canfield said. “Twenty-three years is a long time. You just get to know people and how things work.”

Madison Sparks, a Knox junior majoring in political science, has gotten to know Canfield in her capacity as A.B.L.E. advisor. “I would describe Becky as an amazing person who always knows how to help you navigate through any situation,” she said. “She has definitely helped me navigate tough situations.”

Afolabi noted that as a student, he was involved with Student Senate, Harambee, and the Multicultural Student Advisory Council, so he interacted with Canfield in different ways, including collaborating with her and other students to organize events.  

“The first thing that stands out for me is the genuineness and intentionality that comes with what she does,” he said. “She not only helps with the organization (of student cultural events). She actually stays to participate and cheer students on, which is amazing.”

He considers Canfield a friend. “Even though I'm really far from home, I know I can always count on Becky to be there for me,” he said.

Even though Afolabi has graduated from Knox, he keeps in touch with Canfield. She also has remained close with some other young Knox alumni; last summer, she and Kip took the train to Chicago to meet a few of them for lunch. She deeply values the relationships they’ve developed because of their shared Knox roots. 

“I truly think that one of my gifts is helping individuals, helping the community. What I really enjoy is helping accomplish something with somebody else,” Canfield said. “Probably the best part of my job is the connections that I am able to make with students.”