In August 2019 Bobbie Knight was elected as the fifteenth president, and first woman to serve at the helm of Miles College. Knight, who is a Birmingham native, retired in 2016 after a successful career of more than 37 years with Alabama Power Company. Throughout her career Knight held various executive and leadership positions, including Vice President of the Birmingham Division (Alabama Power’s largest division), Vice President of Public Relations, and General Manager of Supply Chain.

Although retired from her professional career, Knight serves as Chair of the Board of Managers for the Birmingham Times Media Group. In 2018 Knight was appointed to the Birmingham Airport Authority (BAA) and was immediately elected as Chair by her colleagues. She continues to serve as Vice Chair of the BAA.

Throughout her career, Knight has received many awards and accolades. In 2005 she was named Outstanding Alumni in Public Relations by the University Of Alabama School Of Communications. In 2008, Knight was a recipient of the Women’s History Award from the Birmingham Chapter of NAACP. In 2013, she was recognized as one of the “Women Who Make a Difference” by the Birmingham News and AL.com. In 2019, Knight was presented with a Brotherhood and Sisterhood Award by the NCCJ. In 2021, she received the Mann Medal, one of Samford University’s highest levels of distinction.

Knight has a B.S. degree from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and a Juris Doctorate from the Birmingham School of Law. She is also a graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management Executive Leadership Program.

Knight is a woman of immense influence and is passionate about giving back to her community and mentoring young men and women to become leaders in their communities. She is married to Gary Burley, retired NFL player, local philanthropist, and founder of ProStart Academy.