Cub Roar Spring Summer 23 - Flipbook - Page 38
Choosing LSU for college felt right
to Dr. Benton, who said, “It’s rare to
have a high research institution in
your backyard. Because I came from a
family of educators, I understood the
value of this campus.”
Dr. Benton’s experience working
in the Office of the University
Registrar began fresh out of ULS as
a summer student worker, a position
that was included as part of an LSU
scholarship for top students. He
continued working there part-time
throughout college while earning
his bachelor’s degree in marketing.
With commencement approaching,
the office was so intent on retaining
him that they created a position.
And so launched a journey to earn
his doctoral degree, which he
accomplished last fall. The motivation
to pursue a PhD was a coupling of
career advancement opportunities
and honoring his late father, Ronnie.
“To ascend in higher ed, degrees are
valuable,” Dr. Benton said, adding,
“When my dad was sick [in 2011], I
made a promise to him I was going
to do it. I made a commitment to him,
and that was almost more valuable
than anything else.”
Barbara and Clay Benton
“U-High gave me so much – opportunities
there that were unique and set me up for
success.
38 cub roar | summer 2023
There’s an innate
responsibility to pay that
forward. That can be in
different ways.”
His master’s degree is in Human
Resource Education & Workforce
Development, and his doctoral
degree is in Educational Leadership,
with a focus in Higher Education
Administration. Given the timing of his
pursuit of a PhD, Dr. Benton seized
the opportunity to explore online
learning through his dissertation
– “Transitioning in the Time of
Crisis: Understanding the Impact
Students’ Prior Online Learning
Experiences Have on Online Course
Achievement.”
As university registrar, Dr. Benton
and his team are responsible for
LSU students’ records and course
data, a vital part of the university’s
operations and a leadership role that
he’s been working toward indirectly
since elementary school. His appetite
for leadership roles was sparked in
fifth grade, when he was elected class
president. From then on, Dr. Benton
served on Student Council, including
as president his senior year.
“His leadership skills were so
developed at Lab School,” Barbara
said. “Those opportunities could
never, ever be matched. As a mom, it
was fun for me to watch.”
