2001: Chris Knackstedt

NMSU’s Distinguished Alumni Award

Sponsored by the Alumni Association. The Distinguished Alumni award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves and brought honor and distinction to their Alma Mater. Seven awards, one for each undergraduate college and one for an international alumnus, are presented to living alumni. In addition, one or more posthumous awards may be made each year at the discretion of the Selection Committee. Nominees must have attended NMSU and are judged according to their contributions to society, and/or their profession, after attending NMSU. While not mandatory, contributions to the advancement of NMSU and service to the NMSU Alumni Association will be considered. Persons employed by NMSU or currently serving as a member of the NMSU Board of Regents, or persons active in positions relating to University operations, such as state legislators or government officials, are not eligible. Presented during the annual Homecoming festivities.

Chris Knackstedt

Chris Knackstedt (’91)

Chris Knackstedt of El Paso is the 2001 Distinguished Alum of the New Mexico State University College of Business Administration and Economics.

Knackstedt is a 1991 honors graduate of NMSU with a Bachelor of Accountancy degree with a minor in Economics. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1996 and is a Certified Public Accountant.

He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Sierra Providence Health Network, a for-profit network of two acute care hospitals, a physical rehabilitation hospital, an ambulatory surgical center, a 500 physician PHO, and multiple outpatient service centers.

Prior to becoming Chief Financial Officer, Knackstedt served as Director of Contract Compliance for Sierra. Before joining the Sierra Providence Health Network, he was a Senior Auditor for KPMG Peat Marwick with responsibility for planning and coordination of annual financial audits and preparation of audit reports.

His clients included publicly traded entities, manufacturing entities with multi-national operations, and several hospitals. Knackstedt is a former member of the NMSU College of Business Alumni Advisory Counsel and currently serves on the NMSU College of Business Advisory Board.