- A B O U T -

Education

Ph.D., Arizona State University,
Human & Social Dimensions of Science & Technology (2013 projected)

M.I.A., Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (1992)

J.D., New York University School of Law (1988)

B.A. (honors), Political Science, 
University of California, Santa Barbara (1983)

John Carter McKnight is a fourth-year PhD candidate at Arizona State University, in Human & Social Dimensions of Science and Technology. His work examines the emergence of law and governance in online communities, gender and identity presentation online, and the legal anthropology of gaming and online environments.

In addition to an appointment as Adjunct Professor of Law at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, he has developed and taught a range of graduate and undergraduate courses in games studies and and the anthropology of online communities.

Prior to his current graduate work, he practiced corporate finance law with global law firms in New York and San Francisco, served as officer and director of nonprofit organizations involved in science education and policy, and was Prelaw Services Coordinator at ASU. He was a Science Foundation Arizona Fellow for 2008-2010, a 2009 State of Play Graduate Student Scholar, and is currently a HASTAC Scholar.

He maintains two active blogs, "Aporia" focused on the scholarly community, and "Combat Anthropologist" aimed at the gaming community. He is an avid player of Massively Multiplayer Online Games, currently active in EVE Online, World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic.