You might wonder whether Andy Knight (PhD '95) is clairvoyant.

    "A professor teaching East-West security told me, 'Andy, I think you probably should try to avoid studying the United Nations system because you probably won't get a job,' " says the Bishop's University international relations professor.

    But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, says Knight, his research became "extremely relevant" ­ leaving his advisors in the cold. Since that historical moment in 1989, Knight has landed a $90,000 grant from the Fond pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l'Aide à la Recherche to research the United Nations.

    More recently, he helped organize a conference on international relations and managed to write a book on the result. Knight's work with the United Nations includes being one of two Canadians on its academic council. He also holds the position of vice-chair.

    "I'm interested in the notion of global governance," says Knight, who says he's always wanted to explore ways of getting services and goods delivered across the globe, and especially improve the economic and social conditions of people around the globe.

    His interest in the United Nations might stem from his growing up in the Caribbean, he says. The United Nation's ambassador to the Barbados would often visit his parents. He says seeing the international organization through the eyes of the ambassador sparked his desire to service people. "This was one of many avenues to help people," he says of his work with the United Nations.

    Knight, who was residence tutor at Stong College, left York in 1994 to teach at Bishop's University . His one-year contract then became a permanent position with the school. In addition to his achievements with the United Nations, Knight recently received the William Nancy Turner award, a Bishop's university-wide teaching award. He says he uses all the latest "smart" classroom technologies and likes everything about teaching. "It's the chance to bounce ideas off undergraduate students," he says.