Galen Benson

"I've always enjoyed teaching. And, to teach is also to be willing to learn. Teaching is natural for me and I am passionate. I like what Martin Luther King said: 'The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of education.'"

Galen Benson has spent nine years in prison -teaching! He holds an education and training license for Post-Secondary Education and used this expertise while teaching convicted felons all subject matter to help them earn GEDs. Additionally, he taught cognitive education and parenting classes to these inmates. Galen is also an FBI trained and certified crisis negotiator and served the State of Colorado in this capacity. Using leadership and organizational prowess, Galen collaborated with other State and Federal agencies to implement two virtual job fairs; there were 4500 attendees and this earned him multiple awards. He comes back to Principia after working with students of all ages in youth development and as a volunteer coach. Galen is honored to be be a faculty team-member.

Scholarly Interests

• Education
• Character Education
• Communication
• Leadership
• International Affairs
• History

Contributions to Field

Benson's focus on engaging students in self-reflection for better decision making, higher thinking, stronger character, and enhanced communication skills has helped him touch the lives of many.

Awards

Employee of the Quarter (State of Colorado), 2014 Team Excellence Award, 2014

Memberships and Affiliations

• Rocky Mountain Hostage Negotiators
• Colorado Adult Education Professional Association
• Colorado Association for Career and Technical Education
• Commission on Adult Basic Education
• Mountain Plains Adult Education Association

Publications and Presentations

• "Inside the Correctional Education Classroom," The CAEPA/CDE Rendezvous Conference, 2012
• "A Virtual Job Fair for the U.S. Military," Virtual Job Fair Employment Summit, 2014