Alabama Power Birmingham Division Vice President Bobbie Knight has been named chairman of the board of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI).

Knight has been a BCRI board member for three years and assumes her new role for the 2015-2016 term beginning Sept. 15.

“As a lifelong resident of Birmingham, it is an honor to serve the community in this capacity for a phenomenal, world-renowned institution. I look forward to the work the institution will achieve under new President and CEO Andrea L. Taylor and our very committed board of directors and staff,” said Knight.

In her 37-year career with Alabama Power, Knight has served as vice president of Public Relations and held management positions throughout the company, including Supply Chain, Corporate Services and Human Resources.

Knight also serves on the boards of REV Birmingham, Red Mountain Theatre, Birmingham Business Alliance, the Alabama Business Charitable Trust and the Alabama Power Foundation. She currently serves as chairman of the board of the Foundation for Progress in Journalism.

Knight is a graduate of Leadership Birmingham, the MOMENTUM Women’s Leadership Program and Project Corporate Leadership. She has been recognized as a “Top Birmingham Woman” by the Birmingham Business Journal; an Outstanding Alumna in Public Relations by the University of Alabama School of Communications; and an outstanding achiever in business and the community by the women of the Alabama Legislature.

In 2007, Knight was one of 22 women selected worldwide to participate in the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation Fellows program, in which she studied at Harvard Business School and the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.

She lives in Birmingham with her husband, Gary Burley, a former NFL player who is president of Pro Start Academy and Pro Start Scholarship Foundation.