Michael T. Benson
Encyclopedia
Michael T. Benson is the 15th and current president of Southern Utah University
and former president of Snow College
. He has also served as the special assistant to the president of the University of Utah
, and is a full professor at SUU in the Department of Political Science.
and was the first director of the BYU-Ogden Center.
Benson earned his bachelors degree cum laude from Brigham Young University
, and then went on to earn a doctorate in modern Middle Eastern history from St. Antony's College, Oxford. Benson also earned a master's degree cum laude in Non-Profit Administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.
Benson is a grandson of Ezra Taft Benson
. He served an LDS mission in Italy, appropriate since his grandfather had rededicated that land for the preaching of the gospel. Benson and his first wife, Celia Benson (the granddaughter of LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley
) divorced in 2005.
Benson is also an accomplished athlete, having played basketball for both Brigham Young University and Oxford. He is also a proficient golfer and marathon runner. He and his second wife, Debi, are the parents of five children: Emma, Samuel, Truman, Tatum and Talmage.
), Consulting Historian (Harry S. Truman Library), Academic Advisor and Essayist (Skirball Cultural Center
), Visiting Lecturer (Brigham Young University, University of Utah), and Research Assistant (U.S. Senate Labor Committee).
Benson is also the author of Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel, a book which is considered a landmark work in the area of U.S. foreign policy and presidential history. Benson is an admirer of Harry Truman, on whom he wrote his doctoral dissertation.
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
and former president of Snow College
Snow College
Snow College is a rural, two-year state college located in Ephraim, Utah, U.S. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a number of areas...
. He has also served as the special assistant to the president of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, and is a full professor at SUU in the Department of Political Science.
Biograph
Benson is a son of Mark A. Benson. Mark Benson worked for several years as an employee of the BYU Division of Continuing EducationBYU Division of Continuing Education
The BYU Division of Continuing Education is a quasi-college at Brigham Young University that oversees continuing education programs.-History:...
and was the first director of the BYU-Ogden Center.
Benson earned his bachelors degree cum laude from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, and then went on to earn a doctorate in modern Middle Eastern history from St. Antony's College, Oxford. Benson also earned a master's degree cum laude in Non-Profit Administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.
Benson is a grandson of Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of...
. He served an LDS mission in Italy, appropriate since his grandfather had rededicated that land for the preaching of the gospel. Benson and his first wife, Celia Benson (the granddaughter of LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
) divorced in 2005.
Benson is also an accomplished athlete, having played basketball for both Brigham Young University and Oxford. He is also a proficient golfer and marathon runner. He and his second wife, Debi, are the parents of five children: Emma, Samuel, Truman, Tatum and Talmage.
Snow College
In 2001, Benson was appointed as the 14th president of Snow College. Age 36 at the time, he is the youngest college or university president in the history of the Utah System of Higher Education. During his 5 years at Snow, Benson raised more money for the school than in the previous 117 years of the institution's history combined.Southern Utah University
Benson was appointed the president of SUU on November 10, 2006, by the Utah State Board of Regents. Two weeks into his presidency, Benson secured the largest donation in the school's history, which was used to expand SUU's Science Complex. Since his inauguration, he has continued his commitment to fund raising and continues making plans for the expansion of SUU's programs and facilities.Other Appointments
In 2009, Governor Jon M. Huntsman named Benson to a four-year term as member of the seven-person Utah Appellate Courts Nominating Commission. Dr. Benson serves as Chair of the Presidents’ Council for the Summit League, SUU’s Division I athletic conference. Benson also serves on the Advisory Board of the Cedar City Airport. Benson has completed a two-year term as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Utah State Campus Compact. He is a past member of the Zions Bank Central Utah Board of Advisors, and he serves on the Wells Fargo Southwest Utah Board of Advisors. He has been employed in many other capacities, including: Associate Director of Major Gifts (University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
), Consulting Historian (Harry S. Truman Library), Academic Advisor and Essayist (Skirball Cultural Center
Skirball Cultural Center
The Skirball Cultural Center is an educational institution in Los Angeles, California devoted to sustaining Jewish heritage and American democratic ideals. Open to the public since 1996, the Skirball Cultural Center is dedicated to exploring the connections between 4,000 years of Jewish heritage...
), Visiting Lecturer (Brigham Young University, University of Utah), and Research Assistant (U.S. Senate Labor Committee).
Benson is also the author of Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel, a book which is considered a landmark work in the area of U.S. foreign policy and presidential history. Benson is an admirer of Harry Truman, on whom he wrote his doctoral dissertation.