Jerry Knighton, Jr. serves as Associate Vice President/EEO Officer and Executive Director of Procurement Inclusion at Clemson University. In this role, he is responsible for monitoring the university's compliance with state and federal laws related to Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity and Equitable Treatment. In August of 2018, he was also appointed Executive Director of Procurement Inclusion where he is responsible for monitoring efforts to increase minority business participation which includes all Clemson University capital projects both public and private.

Knighton has been employed in higher education administration for over 30 years. A 2008 graduate of the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Academy at Furman University, Knighton also provides a variety of training workshops designed to address issues related to AA/EEO compliance, unlawful discrimination and harassment, workplace diversity, and procurement inclusion.

Knighton served two terms as president of the South Carolina Professional Association for Access and Equity (SC-PAAE). In April 2010, he was recognized by SC-PAAE for his outstanding service and dedication to the field of access and equity in the state of South Carolina. From 2021-2022, Knighton served on the board of the American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity (AAAED) as Annual Conference Chair. He currently serves as the SC State Coordinator for AAAED Region IV. In October 2020 and 2021, he was presented with the AAAED President’s Award for outstanding service and leadership to the organization. Knighton also served as Chair of the South Carolina Industry Liaison Group (SCILG) Board from 2018-2020. This professional organization is an affiliate of the NILG and supports excellence in AA/EEO compliance. In 2023, he was appointed to the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) Board as a Southeast Region Representative. In the area of supplier diversity, Knighton serves on the Carolinas Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) Board as Chair of the Upstate SC Regional Industry Needs Group (RING). This group is an affiliate of the NMSDC and promotes business opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses. Under Knighton’s leadership, CVMSDC recognized Clemson for Best New Program for supplier diversity initiatives in 2017 and more recently as “Corporation of the Year” in 2023. Clemson University was also named among the 2021 and 2022 INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine Jesse L. Moore Supplier Diversity Award recipients for its accomplishments in the area of supplier inclusion.