Dr. Roger Knowles took an unusual route to becoming a neuroscience professor. After majoring in human factors and graduating from West Point in 1986, he served as a lieutenant in the United States Army. With the ending of the Cold War, he left the army and went to Harvard University where he earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience in 1996. After two years as a research fellow at the Alzheimer’s Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, he joined the department of biology at Drew University in 1998 and spearheaded the drive to develop a neuroscience major at Drew. During his time at Drew, he has served as director of the neuroscience program, chair of the biology department and chair of the Health Professions Committee. He has successfully written 15 grants, published 38 manuscripts and abstracts, and developed and taught 14 different undergraduate neuroscience courses. One of the highlights of his career was a successful Howard Hughes Medical Institute program grant which he directed for five years and which helped create more research opportunities for Drew undergraduates.