Hope Knight 2022 York College Foundation Gala Board of Directors Honoree
President & CEO-designate and Acting Commissioner for NYS Empire Development.

Hope Knight has been a leader in New York's economic development for nearly two decades.  She was most recently named President & CEO of NYS Empire Development, tapped by Governor Kathy Hochul "to lead New York's economic development in communities and cities across the state and bring our economy back stronger than ever before." In her previous role, Knight served as President & CEO of Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC) from 2015 to 202. In that capacity, she has advanced the economic growth, community-building, and sustainable real estate development that has immeasurably revitalized and strengthened the Southeast Queens region.

     Before leading GJDC, Knight was Chief Operating Officer of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, overseeing over $150 million in investments, leveraging over $1 billion in private capital, and working on projects such as the East River Plaza and Potamkin East Harlem and the Victoria Theater & Hotel. She also served as Vice President at Morgan Stanley in the Institutional Equities Division, U.S. and as Vice President of Strategic Planning and E-Commerce, Morgan Stanley, Japan. Earlier in her career, Ms. Knight worked at Accenture and in New York City government. Knight holds a B.A. from Marymount Manhattan College and an MBA from the Graduate School of Business of the University of Chicago.

It was wanting to use her skills for the greater good that led Knight to switch from the private sector to community development. "I found my passion," she says. Knight has served on a number of boards-including the Regional Plan Association, TruFund Financial, Grameen America, Morgan Stanley Community Development Advisory Board, East Harlem Tutorial Program, and Jack and Jill of America Foundation-and is currently a board member of the York College Foundation.