Michael T. Benson, D.Phil., brings a wealth of experience in higher education administration to his role as the third president of Coastal Carolina University (CCU), a position he assumed on January 1, 2021. Also holding a professorship in history, President Benson is actively engaged with the CCU community and stakeholders, including maintaining a presence on social media platforms like Twitter. Staying connected with leadership is vital for understanding the direction of the university, and for those looking to follow his updates and insights, finding michael t benson twitter is a direct way to do so.
Since arriving at CCU, President Benson has overseen significant developments. He secured the largest single donation in the university’s history: a $10 million gift from Conway Medical Center. This generous contribution is dedicated to supporting the Conway Medical Center College of Health and Human Performance, CCU’s newest college, which commenced operations in July 2022. Further demonstrating his commitment to enhancing campus infrastructure, in May 2022, he led the groundbreaking for the new Thompson Library, a substantial $29.8 million, 64,000-square-foot facility designed to serve the academic needs of the student body. President Benson also established the President’s Council for Sustainability and Coastal Resilience, highlighting a strategic focus on environmental responsibility and community engagement. His academic roots remain active, as evidenced by his teaching of a graduate seminar on World War I and a course on the history of the American university during Fall 2023.
Coastal Carolina University President Michael T. Benson in academic attire, standing confidently
President Benson’s involvement extends beyond the university campus into the broader community. He is a member of the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce board of trustees and played a key role in working with local partners to ensure the renewal of the Horry County Penny Sales Tax. This tax, which supports local education initiatives including significant capital funding for CCU, received strong voter support in November 2022 and is set to provide over $300 million through 2039. His dedication to regional issues was acknowledged by Horry-Georgetown Technical College, which presented him with the Distinguished Patron award in May 2023. Under his leadership, CCU has seen several capital projects completed or underway, such as the new library, an expanded soccer complex, additional parking, a new PGM academic building and clubhouse, and an indoor practice facility. Projects in the pipeline include expanding the Lib Jackson Student Union, creating a new home for the Conway Medical Center College of Health and Human Performance, and enhancing the track and field complex.
Nationally, President Benson holds several leadership positions in higher education organizations. He serves on the Council of Presidents of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and acts as the FBS presidential representative on the NCAA Board of Governors Committee to Promote Cultural Diversity and Equity. He chairs the board of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society. Recently, he was appointed to the education-focused advisory council for the Global Tech Security Commission and elected treasurer of the Sun Belt Conference Executive Committee by his peers.
Before his tenure at Coastal Carolina University, Benson served as the 13th president of Eastern Kentucky University from 2013 to 2020. His prior role was as the 15th president of Southern Utah University, where he achieved the university’s designation as the state’s public liberal arts and sciences institution, established the Hispanic Center for Academic Excellence, secured admission into the Big Sky Conference for athletic teams, and led the most extensive fundraising campaign in SUU’s history, raising $105 million. He also led Snow College in Utah as its 14th president for five years, where he significantly increased private donations, raising more during his tenure than the previous 115 years combined. Appointed at age 36, he was the youngest college president in the history of the Utah System of Higher Education at the time.
Beyond administration, President Benson is a recognized scholar. His work primarily focuses on the evolution of the research university and its societal impact. His recent book, Daniel Coit Gilman and the Birth of the American Research University, was published by Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Press in October 2022 and was named to the list of Best Higher Education Books of 2023 by Forbes magazine. He previously served as a visiting professor at JHU in the Department of the History of Science and Technology in 2020. President Benson is also a frequent public speaker and has contributed articles to various publications, including The Jerusalem Post, Lexington Herald-Leader, and Deseret News. He has also appeared on ESPN’s The Paul Finebaum Show.
Born in Utah and raised in Texas and Indiana, Benson’s extensive education includes studying and working abroad in Italy, England, and Israel. He graduated from Brigham Young University cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science (with double minors in English and history) in 1990. He earned his doctorate in modern history from the University of Oxford in 1995 as a Rotary Foundation Scholar. He later obtained a master’s degree cum laude in nonprofit administration from the University of Notre Dame in 2011, receiving the Father Theodore Hesburgh Founder’s Award. He also holds a Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University, earned in August 2021. An accomplished athlete, he played basketball at BYU and Oxford and is a competitive marathon runner, having won his age division in the St. George (Utah) Marathon and finished among the top 15% in the 1984 Boston Marathon.
Michael T. Benson with his wife and three children, smiling together in a family photo
President Benson is married to Debi, and they have three children: Truman, Tatum, and Talmage. He also has two older children from a previous marriage: Emma, a TV reporter, and Samuel, a national correspondent.
To keep up with updates, announcements, and perspectives directly from President Benson, individuals can seek out his official presence online. For those specifically searching for michael t benson twitter, his handle is available, providing a platform for him to share insights related to Coastal Carolina University and higher education. Following his account is a useful way for students, faculty, alumni, and interested community members to remain informed about the leadership of the university.
In summary, Michael T. Benson is a distinguished leader with a diverse background encompassing university administration, historical scholarship, community service, and personal accomplishments. His tenure at Coastal Carolina University is marked by significant progress in fundraising, infrastructure development, and strategic initiatives. Connecting with him through platforms like Twitter offers a direct line to the thoughts and activities of the university’s president.