She grew up
in Magna, Utah, and had youthful dreams of a life as a ballerina, a
firefighter, an actress, or even a real-life Indiana Jones. She never imagined
she would one day serve as the director of student involvement and leadership
for a state university. But, she has distinguished herself as particularly
adept in that role, which includes programming and advisement of students in
leadership positions. That work, of course, impacts the entire student body and
the community and world beyond.
Mindy Benson
is SUU’s vice president for alumni and community relations, but served in the
equivalent of Keri’s post for a number of years, and in doing so, embraced the
legacy of her father, Ken Benson. She knows full well the value of that
position in enhancing the future of students.
“Keri is a joy
to work with and has a longstanding history and commitment to SUU,” says
Benson. “In an important role, she always has the students’ best interests in
mind and helps them transform into lifelong leaders.”
A 1991
graduate of Cyprus High School, Keri was among the first fall freshmen at the
newly designated university and threw herself into collegiate life, drawing
upon her extensive high school involvement.
She chose SUU
partly because others had praised the school as a great place to be involved
and decided it would also be a good fit for her. The history major and art
minor went on to activity in Alpha Phi Beta sorority as a charter member of
Alpha Phi national sorority, and service in a variety of other roles here,
including a year as activities vice president in the year of the University’s
centennial celebration.
Steeped in
her SUU studies, she took off from school between her sophomore and junior
years and embarked on a tour of Europe, where she fell in love with the charm
and vibrancy of London, with its West End theater life, with Paris and its art
and history, and with the beautiful mountains of Germany, all of which she says
greatly contributed to her education.
Following her
1997 graduation, she was influenced by her own student government advisor,
Tiffany Evans, to follow that career path, and went on to serve an internship
at Utah State University and work in the field at Utah Valley and USU while
earning a master’s degree in the discipline from the University of Utah.
When the position
opened here, she jumped at it.
“I was
excited to return to SUU and Cedar City,” she says, praising the culture and
beauty of the area, and the attendant opportunities, including hiking, camping
and backpacking.
She says her favorite aspect of her job is helping others
grow and develop as leaders of their fellow students and as future leaders of
their chosen communities.
