Challen Michelle Cates (born January 26, 1966) is an American independent film producer and actress best known for portraying Mrs. Knight on the TV series, Big Time Rush. As of 2007, she has been the executive producer of two American independent films A Fare To Remember (1998) and The A-List (2001). In addition to producing, she's also playing the main character in both movies. In 2003, she also played the lead female role in the independent movie They Would Love You In France.

Since the beginning of 2000, she has also appeared in minor roles in several television series Cybill, Roseanne, Diagnosis: Murder, Monk, CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives and others. In 2007, she had a part in the TV movie The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning. She has a supporting role in the Nickelodeon original series Big Time Rush. Cates has also appeared in 4 Big Time Rush movies such as Big Time Audition, Big Time Concert, Big Time Christmas, and Big Time Beach Party. In Big Time Rush, Cates was only referred to as Mrs. Knight or "Momma Knight" but in Big Time Moms it was revealed that her first named was Jennifer, or Jen.