Charles Knight, a dedicated and passionate natural scientist, has retired from his role as the Director of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science after 31 years of service. Knight first discovered his love for the museum as a child in the 1970s when he visited it in its old downtown Jackson location. This early experience sparked a lifelong passion for the sciences and eventually led him to pursue degrees in biology and gain experience with scientific museum collections.
Over the years, Knight worked his way up through the ranks at the museum, starting as a Research Coordinator before becoming Assistant Director and eventually taking on the role of Director. During his tenure, Knight oversaw numerous significant achievements for the museum, including earning accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums and winning Travel Attraction of the Year from the Southeast Tourism Society. Most recently, readers of Mississippi Magazine named it “2024 Best Museum.”
Lynn Posey, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), praised Knight’s contributions to growing the museum into an award-winning attraction and research facility. Posey recognized Knight’s dedication to creating engaging exhibits that educate visitors about wildlife conservation while also inspiring future generations to care about our planet’s natural resources. Posey thanked Knight for his decades of service and wished him well on his retirement journey.