A New Term

MOVING UP Outgoing Alumni Association President Mike Carpenter passes the gavel to Sean Knox.

Alumni Association installs Sean Knox as president

Loyalty and support are two words that Sean Knox (’98) understands well.

The Columbus, Ga. native has shown plenty of both toward his alma mater for more than a decade, beginning during his undergraduate years. Now in his new role as president of Georgia Southern’s Alumni Association, he is aiming to step up his level of support a few notches, while also reaching out and encouraging fellow alumni to do the same. “I’ve always wanted to support Georgia Southern,” he said, about his desire to give back to his alma mater. “I have great memories of Georgia Southern, and I’m glad that I can still be involved with the University.”

Reaching out is something very familiar to Knox. After earning a master’s in public policy from Regent University, Knox returned to his hometown and was one of the key members of a group that spearheaded the effort to restart the Columbus Eagle Club in the early 2000s. Ever since, he has been actively involved as an Alumni Association board member and chaired the committee that awards student scholarships, which he says was a rewarding experience.

During his tenure, Knox hopes to increase the membership of the Alumni Association by encouraging alumni to join the new alumni networks already being established in several cities around the South. “I intend to reach out to alumni to urge them to join these new groups, which incorporate their interests,” he added. From a financial perspective, Knox would also like to help increase the percentage of alumni donors. “It’s not about the amount of dollars, though, but the amount of donors. There are a lot of exciting things going on at Georgia Southern, and our alumni have the opportunity to play a role in the University’s growth.”

While Knox is growing the membership of the Alumni Association, he is also working to continue the upward growth of his family’s business, Knox Pest Control. Founded by his greatgrandfather Forrest in 1929 – who learned the ropes of the exterminating business from Otto Orkin – Knox is the fourth generation to join the industry. Currently, the Columbus-based company operates 15 offices throughout Georgia, Alabama and Florida and is ranked in the top one percent in revenue of all pest control companies in the U.S. He and his wife Crawford have three children: Addie (7), Sim (4) and newborn Pate.