NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt University‘s Peabody College of education
and human development presented its Distinguished Alumnus Award to
Arthur Jerry Benson, dean of James Madison University‘s College of
Integrated Science and Technology (CISAT), during commencement, Friday,
May 13.
The annual award recognizes significant career and community
achievements, as well as a reputation of excellent character and a
respected and ethical work record.
Benson was appointed dean of CISAT in 2001 after an interim appointment
beginning in 1999. He previously served as dean of JMU‘s College of
Education from 1992 to 1999. The university is located in Harrisonburg,
Va.
Benson was appointed to the JMU faculty in 1980 as assistant professor
of psychology and director of the university‘s Human Development Center
and Shenandoah Valley Child Development Clinic. He was promoted to
associate professor in 1986 and was named professor in 1991.
CISAT was established in 1992 to explore the growing number of ways
that technology and scientific discovery are impacting a variety of
professions. Academic units include communications science, computer
science, information technology, health science, integrated science and
technology, geographic science, kinesiology and recreation, nursing,
psychology and social work. There are 17 undergraduate programs, 22
graduate programs and over 4,200 students.
“Jerry Benson‘s ability to integrate many different strands of academic
work, to listen to faculty or students with often disparate points of
view, and to reconcile competing ideas in visionary and
innovative ways makes him an outstanding recipient of this award,”
Camilla P. Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human
Development at Peabody, said.
Benson is also known for a high level of scholarly contributions in the
fields of school psychology, child development, assessment and
curriculum development and reform.
Benson earned his master‘s and doctoral degrees in psychology from
Peabody (then called George Peabody College for Teachers) in 1973 and
1976. He is a 1972 graduate of Concord College, where he was
valedictorian and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in
psychology.
A former president of the Virginia Association of Colleges of Teacher
Education, Benson has served in various capacities with the National
Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, Big Brothers/Big
Sisters of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County (Va.) and the National
Association of School Psychologists, among other organizations.
He also is a recipient of the Commander‘s Award for Public Service from
the U.S. Department of the Army for his work with the JMU Army ROTC and
military science program.
Previous Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients include Tipper Gore,
wife of former Vice President Al Gore and mental health adviser to
President Bill Clinton; Edward Boling, former president of the
University of Tennessee; Bruce Heilman, former president of the
University of Richmond; Harold Dean Propst, former chancellor of the
University System of Georgia; and Susan Gray, whose research on early
childhood led to the founding of Head Start and for whom Peabody‘s
Susan Gray School for Children is named.
Media contact: Melanie Catania, (615) 322-NEWS
melanie.moran@vanderbilt.edu