FAMU Alum Roshell Rinkins Appointed Knight Foundation VP Grants Administration, Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Officer

MIAMI – The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has appointed Florida A&M University alumna Roshell R. Rinkins, Knight’s senior director for grants administration, to the role of vice president for grants administration and chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer. 

Rinkins has contributed significantly to Knight’s mission of informing and engaging communities across the nation. 

“Roshell brings organizational leadership experience to help drive Knight’s core belief to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion into every aspect of our work,” said Alberto Ibargüen, Knight Foundation president.

A recipient of The Miami Herald’s Silver Knight Award, Rinkins has more than 15 years of experience in strategic sourcing, operations, and supply chain management honed at Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and Apple. Since joining Knight in 2019, the South Florida native has led the development and execution of systems, policies and management tools that have modernized and optimized Knight’s operations and grantmaking functionality. Rinkins was instrumental in shaping Knight’s supplier diversity program, which led to the integration of diverse supplier inclusion into the fabric of Knight’s contract review process. 

“The work we do at Knight Foundation is more critical than ever. I am thrilled to join an executive team committed to turning great ideas into smart investments to help build informed and engaged communities that make the dream of democracy accessible to all,” Rinkins said. 

In October 2021, the Knight Foundation donated $1.5 million to FAMU to add multimedia functionality to the University’s new Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater. This new public space, which includes the Amphitheater, is known as the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Plaza.