Dr. Dee K. Knight received the prestigious 2008 Citation for Distinguished Service to International Education at the University of North Texas on April 10, 2008.  The award is given to individuals within the university community who have performed or achieved an extraordinary record of outstanding, distinguished, meritorious and longstanding service to international education at UNT.

Dr. Knight’s has created innovative international programs of study to Hong Kong and China, leveraged strategic industry relationships to create international experiential learning for UNT students, and contributed to exemplary scholarship that addresses retail internationalization. In 2003, the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management in collaboration with the College of Business Administration, offered the first UNT Study Abroad Program to Asia. Now in its sixth year and a resounding success, this program has become an integral component of the merchandising program. Moreover, it significantly influenced the SMHM strategic plan which has incorporated a strong emphasis on internationalization across the curriculum.  Dr. Knight has been instrumental in the program's success and the life changing impact she has had on students while studying abroad is inspiring.