She also serves on the boards of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Family Health Plan of Santa Clara County.
During the 1970s, Kniss worked as a public health nurse for San Mateo County and Cupertino Union School District.
Kniss began her public work when elected to the Palo Alto Unified School District Board in 1985.
On the Council, she led efforts to make government more accountable to taxpayers, created new affordable housing and developed a citywide shuttle service to reduce traffic.
After serving three terms, the maximum allowed at one time, she returned to the Palo Alto City Council.