Bay Path University Honors Christopher Knerr with the 2024 President’s Award for Excellence in Innovative Thinking
Bay Path University is proud to announce Christopher Knerr, Assistant Vice President of IT, as the recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Excellence in Innovative Thinking. The award was presented at the annual Employee Recognition Event and Holiday Party held on December 17, 2024. The award is a cherished Bay Path tradition that celebrates the remarkable contributions of faculty and staff.
Established in 2007, the President’s Award for Excellence in Innovative Thinking recognizes outstanding contributions that enhance and sustain Bay Path’s culture of innovation. Honorees are placed on the Excellence in Innovative Thinking Honor Roll and receive a cash prize of $500.
This year’s recipient, Chris Knerr, is widely known for his dedication to ensuring Bay Path’s technology systems run efficiently, securely, and in support of the University’s goals. Currently, Chris is also leading the integration of systems between Bay Path University and Cambridge College following their recent acquisition.
Chris’s nomination was submitted by Ashley Muraczewski, assistant vice president of Analytics & Technology Transformation and Title III Technology Director, and Jill Williams, executive director of Partnership Development. One nominator shared: “Chris goes about his business humbly and diligently, not looking for praise or accolades. Well today, we are going to shine a spotlight on Chris.”
Throughout his tenure, Chris Knerr has been instrumental in advancing Bay Path’s technological infrastructure and fostering innovation to benefit students, faculty, and staff. Comments from his nomination highlighted numerous achievements:
Transforming Data Infrastructure: Chris has led the development of systems infrastructure that empowers the Analytics team to deliver critical reports and data to hundreds of decision-makers, directly impacting students’ journeys at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Implementing Pathify (BPU Community): Chris played a leadership role in selecting and implementing Pathify, also known as BPU Community. This innovative platform has significantly enhanced how students engage with the University while improving communication and collaboration among faculty and staff.
Advancing Title III Grant Initiatives: Under the Title III grant, Chris’s work on data reporting initiatives has been pivotal in democratizing decision-making and leveraging real-time data to positively impact students’ academic journeys.
Securing IT Infrastructure: Chris continually improves and safeguards Bay Path’s technology infrastructure, staying ahead of evolving threats in the IT field to protect the University’s systems.
Many of the achievements made over the last five years would not be what they are without Chris Knerr’s collaboration, skills, and support, remarked his nominators.
Bay Path University President Sandra Doran expressed her appreciation for Chris’s contributions, saying: “Chris is a shining example of the innovative thinking and dedication that makes Bay Path exceptional. His work has had a profound impact on our students, staff, and faculty, and we are thrilled to recognize his efforts with this well-deserved award.”
The President’s Award for Excellence in Innovative Thinking serves as an opportunity to honor the creativity and hard work of ALL of Bay Path’s faculty and staff. In President Doran’s words: “This award not only celebrates one exceptional individual but also serves as a moment to acknowledge the collective impact of each and every one of you.”
Congratulations to Chris Knerr, a true leader in innovation excellence!