2026 Alumni Trustee Candidates

Psychology / Spanish Translation
Chicago, Illinois

Katie hopes to help Knox continue to grow, improve, and serve generations of students to come. Studying psychology and playing volleyball at Knox shaped her into someone who believes higher education should be accessible and empowering, especially for those who experience exclusion. She carried her Knox experience to Chicago, where she worked in community mental health at Thresholds for two years before beginning her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Roosevelt University. Katie has a particular interest in relationship counseling and sex education. Outside of work and school, she stays busy with volleyball, playing games with her fiancé, Aaryan Dhingra ’22, and spending time with their kitties, Rome and Cleo.

Environmental Studies & Political Science
Chicago, Illinois

Daniel graduated from Knox in 2022 with a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies, earning Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha honors. From 2020 to 2022, he served as Student Member of the Board of Trustees, sitting on the Finance and Facilities & Infrastructure Committees. He also served as Treasurer of the Student Senate and Phi Gamma Delta, President of the Pre-Law Club, and conducted Richter-funded research on microplastics in Knox County waterways. He taught and tutored in political science, environmental studies, and environmental geology, played saxophone in the Knox Jazz Ensemble, and served as an Orientation Leader and TRIO participant.

Since graduating, Daniel has served as an aide to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin in the Springfield office and, since August 2024, in Chicago.  As a caseworker, he advocates for Illinois constituents navigating federal agencies, intervening before the Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Departments of State, Labor, and Veterans Affairs to resolve delayed benefits, immigration matters, and agency disputes. As an outreach coordinator, he cultivates relationships with local officials, community leaders, and civic organizations, and drafts letters of support for organizations pursuing federal grant funding.

Daniel remains active in the Chicago regional club and performs with the alumni band at the Rootabaga Jazz Festival. He is running because his Board experience taught him how Knox works, and his public service has sharpened how he can help the College thrive.

History / French
Chicago, Illinois

Meridian is a current American History and Public History PhD student at Loyola University Chicago. He graduated from Knox College in 2025, but before graduating, he participated in the leadership of a wide variety of clubs and organizations on campus— LARP club, DND club, and Choir Board to name just a few. In his junior year, Meridian was chosen to be the College Marshall for commencement. In his senior year, he had the honor of being elected Senior Class President. Meridian also worked as an Oral History student worker in the library, and he is dedicated to preserving the complex and unique culture and history of the College. Meridian is deeply committed to Knox College’s past, present, and future and would be incredibly grateful to continue giving back to a community which means so much to him.