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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu
Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

DOUG BENSON
Professor of Spanish
2009-2010 Coffman University Distinguished Teaching Scholar

 

Doug BensonDoug Benson, professor of Spanish, believes teaching is two-way street.

"I've been able to help students learn about themselves and the world through Spanish, and I've had the opportunity to learn things from my research and my students that I could not possibly know working on my own," Benson said.

That philosophy, along with his commitment to creating an environment at K-State where diversity can thrive, is why he was named K-State's 2009-2010 Coffman Chair for University Distinguished Teaching Scholars.

As Coffman Scholar, Benson is working on the Virtual Tilford Center, a learning resource for students, faculty and staff for enhancing diversity. The center will use the Second Life platform as its basic structure. It will draw on the work of K-State's Tilford Group, which has spent the last 12 years developing a comprehensive diversity curriculum. Benson will head the four-member board guiding the development of the virtual center's content, which will include classroom materials, information about diversity-related activities and visitors, ideas and funding for research projects, and access to diversity training.

Benson believes that diversity is key to a well-rounded education and to preparing today's college-age students for the challenges they'll face.

A longtime advocate of diversity, Benson has served for many years as co-chair of the annual Community Cultural Harmony Week and is a past recipient of K-State's Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty/Staff Award for Distinguished Service to Minority Students.

Benson has a bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University and a doctorate from the University of New Mexico.