Portia W. Benson

"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