October 4, 2006

Riverside--Katie Benson, Instructor in Communication, joins the faculty of La Sierra University’s English and Communication department this year.  A fairly recent graduate, Benson holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and marketing (2001) and a Master of Arts in speech communication (2004) from California State University, Fullerton.

Although this is her first full-time faculty post, Benson is no stranger to teaching. For the past year, she has been an adjunct instructor at CSU Fullerton, Fullerton College, Westwood College, and the Norco campus of Riverside Community College.  In her new position at La Sierra University, Benson will teach Mass Media and Society, Living in the Information Age, Reading Improvement, Social Rhetoric, Advertising, and Speech.

A native of Kansas, Benson spent a summer in California ten years ago and never went back.  She enjoys the environment of Southern California, and looks forward to making a home here with her husband David and two dogs, Billy and Roxy.

“I hope to learn about myself through my interaction with the students,” says Benson of her new position.  “Teaching is about learning and giving guidance.”

“I really like her approach to teaching,” says department chair Mary Wilson, Ph.D., who hired Benson.  “She’s a very enthusiastic person, and very student centered.”