The GW mascot, escorted by the JHU Blue Jay, came bearing a gift: a personalized Colonials basketball shirt. Photo by Will Kirk / HIPS

By Greg Rienzi
The Gazette

University administration, faculty, staff and other invited guests packed Homewood's Glass Pavilion on Tuesday to bid a fond farewell to Steven Knapp, the university's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, who will be leaving Johns Hopkins this summer to assume the presidency of George Washington University.

At the event, Knapp's colleagues lauded his leadership, humor, commitment, intellect and crisis management ability. They also took time for some good-natured ribbing at his apparent need to get up to speed on NCAA Division I basketball, a sport played by his new school. To assist him, Knapp was presented with a Johns Hopkins University Press book called The Physics of Basketball and a personalized George Washington Colonials basketball jersey, hand delivered by the school's mascot.

A skilled percussionist, Knapp was also given an African mahogany cajon drum, which he wasted no time in breaking in — a brief performance that drew a rousing applause.

Knapp, who attended the event with his wife, Diane, and two adult children, Sarah and Jesse, received a string of heartfelt valedictions on stage by deans and President William R. Brody, who all honored his decade of service to Johns Hopkins.

Knapp will assume the presidency of George Washington University on Aug. 1.

Nursing Dean Martha Hill Photo by Will Kirk / HIPS

Steven Knapp and KSAS Dean Adam Falk Photo by Will Kirk / HIPS

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