Kristal Knight joined Emerge Tennessee as the Executive Director in February 2017. Since joining the team, Kristal has graduated 2 full cohorts and one bootcamp class from the program in just 13 months. She brings a host of presidential and local campaign experience to the role. She began her political career as a Field Organizer for then Mayor Adrian Fenty’s Washington, D.C. reelection campaign. From there she went on to serve as a Regional Field Director for the reelection of President Barack Obama in 2012 in Philadelphia, PA and returned to DC to serve on his Presidential Inaugural Committee in 2013. Prior to joining Emerge TN Kristal served as Executive Director of Serve DC- The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism and on the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016.
She is passionate about expanding the opportunities for women and people of color in politics and has served on many local and community boards in Tennessee and Washington, D.C. A native of Memphis, Tennessee Kristal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Howard University and a Masters in International Public Policy from University College London in the UK.