Doug Benson
Professor of Spanish
2009-2010 Coffman University Distinguished Teaching Scholar
Doug Benson, professor of modern languages, has taught Spanish language and Spanish
and Spanish-American culture and literature for more than 40 years, 30 of those years
at Kansas State University. He has an international reputation for his research on
the postwar poetry of Spain, and has published on Chicano poetry and foreign language
pedagogy as well.
Since his arrival at K-State in 1980, he has been deeply involved with the diversity work of the university, beginning with his participation on the American ethnic studies secondary major development committee in 1984. Among other honors, he is the recipient of the Commerce Bank Presidential Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching in 1999, the Commerce Bank Presidential Award for Distinguished Services to Minority Students in 2000, and the Dr. Ron and Rae Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching in 2008.
Benson believes that teaching is a 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 extensively from my research, my colleagues and my students that I could not possibly know working on my own," he said.
That philosophy, along with his commitment to creating a learning 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 the Coffman Chair, Benson is working on the current Tilford Group Web site and a new Virtual Tilford Multicultural and Diversity Center, a resource and training site for faculty and staff that uses the Second Life platform. Both sites draw on the work of K-State's Tilford Group, which has spent the last 12 years developing a comprehensive diversity curriculum.
Benson heads the four-member content team in guiding the development of the Tilford Group Web site, which will include classroom materials, information about diversity-related activities and visitors, ideas and funding for research projects, and access to diversity training. The Tilford technology team from agricultural communications and journalism created the idea for the Second Life Tilford site, and works with Benson and the content team. In addition, Benson has created a team of diversity accelerators who will advise the development teams and train faculty and staff when the two sites are ready for public use. The idea for the accelerators came from Myra Gordon, K-State's associate provost for diversity and dual career development, as a way to carry forward the work of the Tilford Group sites.
Benson believes that diversity provides the foundation for any university education, preparing today's college students for the challenges and opportunities they will face in their personal and professional lives.
A longtime advocate of diversity, Benson has served for many years as a member of the American ethnic studies governance board and as co-chair of the annual Community Cultural Harmony Week. He 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.
He can be reached at 785-532-1926 or bensonml@k-state.edu.