The following story originally appeared on the W&M Alumni Magazine website as an online exclusive. – Ed.
Happy tears were shed at a ceremony during Commencement Weekend as Kathleen Clem and Linda A. Knight were named William & Mary’s newest honorary alumni. Since the 1990s, the William & Mary Alumni Association has given this special recognition to individuals who, though not graduates of W&M, have shown exceptional dedication and devotion to the university.
Clem and Knight were selected by the W&M Alumni Association Board of Directors for this distinguished award based on nominations by their peers.
Kathleen Clem HON ’25
William & Mary has always held a special place in Clem’s heart. While her older sister, Janet Rollins Atwater ’84, P ’17, P ’20 was attending William & Mary, Clem would make frequent visits to Williamsburg, and she soon developed a love for the place and the university all her own.
Clem is part of a large W&M family. In addition to her sister, this includes her husband, Mike Clem ’81; her brother-in-law, Peter Atwater ’83, P ’17, P ’20; her niece, Molly Atwater-Pulisic ’17, M.S. ’18; nephew, Bennett Atwater ’20; and their spouses. Embracing her William & Mary connections, Clem has served the university with the dedication and care of the most exemplary alumni.
She volunteered on the For the Bold Campaign Committee in Washington, D.C., with her husband, helping William & Mary secure success in its largest comprehensive campaign in university history.
Kathleen and Mike are also dedicated donors to the history department’s writing research center. The Michael and Kathleen Clem History Writing Center offers free consultations for students working on research and writing assignments for history courses.
Clem is a charter member of the Society of 1918. It was through her service with the Society that her talent for inspiring others to give became evident and she was invited to serve on William & Mary’s Annual Giving Board. She currently chairs the Unrestricted Giving Committee and serves on the board’s Executive Committee.
Clem brings her experience in the nonprofit space to William & Mary. She is president of Engage USA, which she cofounded more than 20 years ago to help nonprofits manage their fundraising operations by providing data management, accounting services and more. She is also a longtime member and current Chair of the Baltimore Chapter of The Entrepreneurs’ Organization.
Linda A. Knight HON ’25
As William & Mary’s executive director of health & wellness and director of campus recreation, Knight has positively impacted the William & Mary experience for countless alumni.
Knight’s William & Mary journey began over 26 years ago when she joined the university as director of recreational sports. At that time, she had a handful of staff and a building that did not adequately meet the needs of students. Today, she leads a full-time staff of more than a dozen people, plus many part-time student employees.
Knight has helped transform the resources offered to students. She played a key role in the 2006 renovation of the Recreation Center which reconfigured and expanded spaces for intramural sports, personal fitness and wellness activities and sports club activities. She also pitched the idea of a student wellness center to alumni couple and university donors Goody Tyler HON ’11 and the late Helen “Bee” McLeod ’83, M.B.A. ’91. Today this idea has come to life as the beautiful McLeod Tyler Wellness Center.
Knight’s leadership hasn’t just catalyzed change in the physical structure of campus recreation, but in the philosophy underpinning its mission. What started as an effort to support club sports became a goal to engage all students in recreation through fitness classes, intramural sports, outdoor activities and more. Knight sees this engagement as fundamental to happy, healthy students who can pursue their academic and life aspirations.
There are now more than 500 intramural sports teams and over 40 club sports, including fencing, ultimate frisbee and water polo. And an incredible 82% of all students participate in campus recreation programs. Knight’s goal is to reach the other 18%.
To learn more about honorary alumni recognition and how to nominate deserving individuals, visit the Alumni Association website.