Beloved theatre faculty member and Oglethorpe alum Lee Knippenberg ’82 will begin a new chapter this December, retiring from the university after a remarkable 34-year career.
Ahead of her retirement, Joseph Knippenberg, Lee’s husband of 32 years and professor of politics at Oglethorpe, wrote a letter to his wife:
I met Lee Boggus (as she was then) when she joined the faculty in 1990. It was her dream job—returning to her alma mater to start a theatre program. Neither of us imagined at the time that we would share a 34-year journey on the OU campus.
To be sure, Lee’s OU journey is a lot longer than mine: her dad—the late Robert L. Boggus ’49—was president of the Booster Club, so she had spent more than a few childhood evenings playing in Dorough Fieldhouse while Coach Garland Pinholster’s Petrels were working their hardwood magic.
We married on December 19, 1992—after all the grading was done, of course—and held the reception in what was then called the Great Hall of Hearst. A number of colleagues attended the wedding, including Manning Pattillo, who had made it clear to us that he expected an invitation.
Our kids spent a lot of time on campus: as infants distracting but not disrupting our classes and committee meetings; as youngsters attending sporting events (my go-to means of entertaining them when Lee was in rehearsals) and Bob Unger’s summer and homeschool track camps, and occasionally performing in plays; and then enrolling in a few classes during high school and in college (John Nardo, Roarke Donnelly, Mike Rulison, and Lee all had that pleasure; for some reason, they avoided my classes).
Lee founded and directed the theatre program for fourteen years, stepping back when the demands of homeschooling couldn’t be managed by two full-time professors. For most of those fourteen years, she basically did everything—directing four shows a year, handling all the technical requirements from set design and construction to costumes, sound, and lighting, and…teaching all the acting and theatre history classes. I was the chief cook and bottle washer for cast parties, held at our house, and attended every play (but not every performance).
To this day, I’m in awe of the energy Lee put into her classes and productions and of her talent as an actor and director. She made—and makes—it all seems so easy and so natural.
I feel blessed that we’ve been married for almost 32 years and that we’ve been able to work, well, sort of together at Oglethorpe. I’ll be a little sad that I’ll be the only one bringing home stories from campus, but also very happy for her as she starts a new chapter in our life together, giving all that talent and energy to our daughter, her husband, and our first grandchild.
True to the Oglethorpe slogan, Knippenberg made her life and her living at the university.
Knippenberg was instrumental in the development of the university’s theatre program. When she began her career at Oglethorpe in 1990, a major in theatre did not yet exist. Fortunately, she came equipped with an indomitable spirit and a boundless supply of theatre expertise, which helped catalyze Oglethorpe University Theatre into the robust program that prepares students for rigorous careers in performing arts.
“If not for her, I doubt there would even be a theatre major at Oglethorpe,” says Matt Huff, coordinator of the university’s theatre program. “Under her leadership, Lee directed all of the plays, helped build the sets and costumes, and taught all of the classes.”
“And she did this during a time when there was much less support for theatre than there is now. I can easily imagine an underfunded program like this fizzling out over time. But amazingly, it persevered all due to Lee’s hard work, creativity, smarts, and passion.”
Many students graced the stage at the Conant Performing Arts Center during her tenure. Those students recall their time with her fondly.
“Lee was a great professor. She has a true passion for the arts and fought hard for the Theatre major at OU and many people should be thankful for her time at OU,” says theatre major Kayla Nguku ’26. “I wish she was able to direct a show again before she retired, but her legacy is there with all the other shows she was able to direct.”
Certainly, Lee Knippenberg will be missed. Oglethorpe University wishes her well as she embarks on her next journey.
