Janet Knowles is the Treasurer and co-Founder, with her husband, Harry Knowles, of the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation. Janet was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1941. When she was 5 years old she moved to New Jersey with her mother to live with her grandmother. A year later she moved with her mother and new dad to Camden, New Jersey where she lived until graduating from Camden High School. During high school she was a member of the National Honor Society.

Janet began her career at RCA as an administrative assistant. After several moves, working for Presidents and CEOs of a number of corporations, she arrived at Metrologic Instruments in 1972. There she worked as administrative assistant to Harry Knowles and office manager for Metrologic.

In 1976, Janet became Vice President of Administration, a position she still holds. She also is Treasurer of Metrologic Instruments, Inc. Also in 1976 Harry asked Janet, although she had no experience in inventory control, to take over the Purchasing Department and stock room for a couple of weeks until he could hire someone. Thirty years later, Janet was still very much involved in this portion of Metrologic management.

In 1985, Metrologic unfortunately found itself in bankruptcy. Relying on her on-the-job training, Janet assembled all the necessary records for the control of the bankruptcy and to present to the court. Because these records were complete, well organized and easy to comprehend, Metrologic moved rapidly and smoothly out of bankruptcy in less than 6 months. Janet also has had major responsibility in several Metrologic buildings, overseeing the building design, construction, completion and interior design.

Janet and Harry have enjoyed a very special relationship for over 30 years. Working 24/7, their individual strengths mesh well and complement one another. Together, they have been able to make both career and marriage expand to the point where they are able to help many people move into science teaching. They hope to return to the world some of the blessings they have received.

Janet is the mother of two daughters, Diann and Donnah, and a grandmother of two boys, Thomas and Patrick, and one granddaughter, Hannah. When the children were younger, the Knowles were involved in the Moorestown Rotary foreign student exchange program, inviting students from other countries to join their family. Both Diann and Donnah participated in student exchange visits to Sweden and Mexico.

Janet is an accomplished artist, designing original, one-of-a kind, three-dimensional bead jewelry. She also does clay sculpture. She has recently served on the Board of Trustees of Wheaton Village, a glass museum and teaching center in Millville, New Jersey. She previously served on the board of the Cooper Hospital Auxiliary. Among her other volunteer activities, Janet is active in the American Cancer Society, working with breast cancer patients.