FEATURED MOVER | Rota Knott, Community Foundation of Harford County

The Community Foundation of Harford County has been appointed Rota L. Knott executive director, bringing more than a decade of experience in nonprofit administration and fund development.

Knott comes to the Community Foundation of Harford County from the Somerset County Local Management Board on the Eastern Shore, where she served as executive director and grew the organization’s annual funding support for nonprofits and community partners that address the needs of children, youth and families.

In addition, Knott served as the executive director of Delmarva Education, a nine-county college access program supporting students in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.

Prior to joining the Community Foundation of Harford County, Knott was a freelance writer, editor and art director with Pines Media as well as executive director of both the Somerset County Local Management Board and the Delmarva Education Foundation and the Worcester County coordinator for Women Supporting Women.

In her time outside the office, Knott volunteers with the Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County’s ReStore, was a recycling committee member with the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and was a legislative liaison with the Worcester County Landowners Association.

ABOUT ROTA KNOTT

Resides in:

Havre de Grace

Education:

Master of Science in administration of human services from the College of the Social and Behavioral Sciences at Wilmington University; Bachelor of Arts in media communications from Salisbury State University

What’s your top priority as you take leadership of the foundation? 

My top priority is to build awareness about the Community Foundation of Harford County and how we use the power of collective philanthropy to create lasting impact in the community. CFHC is here to help connect people who care to the causes that matter most to them. You don’t have to be wealthy to create your legacy and make a difference in the community you love.

If you had not chosen your current profession, what profession would you choose and why

An archeologist. My childhood dream was to explore the world excavating the ruins of ancient civilizations and to write about it for Smithsonian Magazine.

Favorite vacation:

Maine calls to me. It is such a beautiful state, and, much like Maryland, is so geographically diverse. I love to hop in the car and drive along the coastline or through the mountains, stopping to explore whatever catches my fancy along the way.

When I want to relax, I … :

Go see a play. I am a huge fan of live theater.

Favorite book:

“Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo. A triumph of love and compassion over hardship and social injustice.

Favorite quotation:

“You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.” — Eleanor Roosevelt