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Michael D Knox
Michael D. Knox grew up on Grosse Ile, Michigan, and earned a PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan in 1974. Knox's academic career focused on disease prevention, HIV/AIDS, death, commu...view moreMichael D. Knox grew up on Grosse Ile, Michigan, and earned a PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan in 1974. Knox's academic career focused on disease prevention, HIV/AIDS, death, community mental health, ethics, and peace. His work included over 130 scholarly publications and well over $50 million in research grants. He is currently a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at the University of South Florida, holding faculty appointments in Internal Medicine, Mental Health Law and Policy, and Public Health. His long-standing peace and antiwar activities began in 1965 when he chose the Vietnam War as the topic of his first speech for a public speaking class. From that point on, a passion for peace and opposition to war were deeply ingrained in him. As a delegate to the 20th National Student Congress, he introduced a successful resolution to hold an antiwar demonstration in 1967 in front of The White House, and in 1970 he co-founded a draft counseling center. In 1971, he blew the whistle on prohibited classified research at the University of Michigan, disclosing secret details and providing evidence that university researchers were "perfecting weapon systems used by the military to kill and incapacitate other human beings." Years later, in the summer of 2005, he took his son James to Washington, D.C. for a graduation trip. They visited numerous monuments to war, where they heard veterans talking about their combat-related experiences with young listeners who seemed proud of the speaker's military record, perhaps viewing them as role models. Suddenly, with his son present, he realized that all of his memories and stories in that realm were of antiwar activities and that there are no national monuments to show that our society values peace and recognizes those who took action to oppose a war. There is no public validation of antiwar activities and no memorial to serve as a catalyst for discussion regarding peace. This new awareness led to the organization of the US Peace Memorial Foundation in 2005, which he currently chairs. In 2007, Knox was awarded the Marsella Prize for the Psychology of Peace and Social Justice by Psychologists for Social Responsibility, recognizing him "for more than four decades of outstanding contributions to peace and humanitarian assistance." After he retired in 2011, he discontinued his license as a clinical psychologist to devote his full attention to ending U.S. war and militarism. Dunedin, Florida is his home. For more information, visit: www.uspeacememorial.org/Knox.htm or view his antiwar activities in the US Peace Registry at www.uspeacememorial.org/Registry.htm.view less