On July 1, 2026, the Syracuse University School of Education named DeBorah A. Little ’14, G’16 as Chair of its Advisory Board. Little succeeds Deborah A. Knoblock ’88, G’90, who served as Chair from 2022 to 2026 and who helped reshape and energize the Board during a period of significant growth for the School. Knoblock will remain on the Board.
The SOE Advisory Board provides strategic counsel and community connection to the School of Education’s leadership as it advances its mission to prepare educators and human service professionals who make a difference in schools and communities across New York and beyond.
A Legacy of Service: Deborah A. Knoblock ’88, G’90 (Immediate Past Chair)
During her four-year tenure as Chair, Knoblock led the transition from a Board of Visitors to an Advisory Board, restructured Board guidelines and introduced term limits. She oversaw the creation of advisory committees for the Center on Disability and Inclusion, the Center for Experiential Pedagogy and Practice, and Study Abroad and Study Away programs. Under her leadership, the School launched the SOE Ambassador Program and SOE Mentor Connect, both of which have deepened alumni engagement with current and prospective students.
Knoblock was a key advisor to Dean Kelly Chandler-Olcott as SOE transformed to a One School structure in 2022, made extensive programmatic and curricula changes, expanded its footprint in Huntington Hall, and welcomed the School of Social Work in 2025.
She also helped steward several significant fundraising milestones, including gifts supporting the Baldanza Fellowship Program, the Graduate Student Wing of Huntington Hall, the Indigenous Teacher Preparation Fund, and the CDI’s Dream Big campaign.
A passionate educator with a lifelong commitment to teaching children to read, Knoblock earned both her B.S. in Elementary Education and her M.S. in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation from SOE. She has been recognized as Teacher of the Year by her colleagues in the School District of Osceola County, FL, and has served as Head of Lower School and Head of School at prominent independent schools in metro Atlanta.
“Deb Knoblock brought exactly the right combination of strategic vision and personal dedication to the role of Chair at a pivotal moment for our School,” says Dean Kelly Chandler-Olcott. “She leaves the Advisory Board stronger, more purposeful, and more deeply connected to our students and alumni than ever before. We are profoundly grateful for her years of service and her enduring investment in everything the SOE stands for.”
Trailblazing Inspiration: DeBorah A. Little ’14, G’16 (Incoming Chair)
Little holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Management and Technology and a master’s degree in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation from Syracuse University. She brings more than 35 years of entrepreneurial experience to the role, with a career that spans corporate management with United Airlines, consulting and training in government and education, and service as the former agent and manager for her late husband, Pro Football Hall of Famer Dr. Floyd Little ’67, H’16.
A three-time co-author and nationally respected educator, Little has dedicated much of her work to inspiring audiences to build systems of confidence, courage, and commitment in pursuit of their goals. Her service extends well beyond the Advisory Board: she is Chairwoman of the NFL Alumni Women’s Affairs of Las Vegas, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Advisory Board, and head of Remnant Ministries’ Celebration of Life Ministry. She is a leading advocate for youth, parents, widows, and educational equity.
In Syracuse, Little made history as the first African American woman elected to the Syracuse Common Council. She has served on the SOE Advisory Board since 2019 and most recently as Vice Chair, a role in which she deepened her engagement with the School’s strategic direction.
“DeBorah Little embodies the values at the heart of the School of Education: a belief in the transformative power of learning, a commitment to equity, and genuine dedication to her communities,” says Dean Chandler-Olcott. “She brings extraordinary energy, a remarkable network, and a depth of experience that will serve our students, faculty, and alumni exceptionally well. We are thrilled to welcome her into this leadership role.”