- Academics
- Majors and Minors
- Faculty
- Study Abroads
- Experiential Learning
- Internships and Career Development Office
- Career and Graduate School Preparation
- Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Center for Sustainability
- Center for Teaching and Learning
- James K. Schmidt Art Gallery
- Library
- Registrar
- Land Stewardship
- About Us
- Campus Life
- Athletics
- Admissions
- Visit
Portia W. Benson

Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Chair of the Business Administration and Economics Department
Teaching Area(s)
Education
MBA, West Texas A&M University
BA, Sociology/Anthropology, Principia College
Contact
618.374.5496
"I was drawn to teaching because I understand students' frustrations with new concepts and can show them different ways to learn if they don't understand the first time. Working in a classroom setting is the most enjoyable way to teach. I think the energy and questions the students develop in a group are essential to their learning."
Portia holds a BA in sociology/anthropology with a minor in biology from Principia College, and an MBA from West Texas A&M University. Prior to working at Principia, she served as the Finance Manager and math teacher at the Link School in Colorado. Portia has also worked for nine years as a financial consultant and three years as a senior technical training consultant for Lucent Technologies. During her time as a consultant, she travelled globally training clients how to use telecom billing systems.
Scholarly Interests
- Ethics and corporate governance
- Forecasting
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Audits
- Financial Review Processes
Contributions to Field
- Wrote a grant and secured government funding for a fire protection district to purchase a new ambulance and fire truck. Presented and defended the grant's financial statements to state and county officials. Started two consulting businesses which provided financial and bookkeeping services to clients
- Wrote and submitted a 501c3 application for a new non-profit. Defended the application to the IRS. Set up the new 501c3 business with financial reporting software, articles of incorporation, by-laws, and operating procedures. They continue to be a successful, board-run non-profit organization.
Memberships and Affiliations
- The Link School Board of Directors
- National Society for Leadership and Success
- Notary Public