By Daniel Wilson

May 12, 2025

Jeffery Benson proudly calls himself a disruptor.

The 61-year-old has earned the title through a life of purpose and perseverance, culminating in his graduation from Sacramento State summa cum laude in December 2024 with a bachelor's degree in Career and Technical Studies.

“You never know what life's journey will offer or what you'll give back in return,” he said. “The more I give, the more the world gives back to me. (These awards are) not only for myself but also for all of my ancestors, all of the giant shoulders that I stand on, my community members, and all of my family, both chosen and biological.”

Benson’s journey to a Sac State degree has been anything but traditional and even intersects with history.

Born in the 1960s in Topeka, Kansas, he grew up in the crucible of the civil rights movement. His mother, aunt and grandmother were among the 13 original plaintiffs in the historic 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case that led to U.S. school desegregation. His father also attended the segregated Monroe Elementary School, which was at the center of the case.

Last May, Benson and his mother joined other plaintiff families in a visit to the White House to commemorate the case’s 70th anniversary, an experience Benson described as a “generational, full-circle moment.”

“My family has fought vigorously to ensure that civil rights legislation remains the law of the land,” he said. “Whatever we do through education, through community involvement, through social justice work, it's been my guiding force and my family's guiding force our entire lives.”

Benson is the recipient of the President’s Medal, awarded each year to Sacramento State’s top graduate, and will offer words of encouragement at the College of Education Spring Commencement ceremony on May 17, the 71st anniversary of the monumental court decision. Benson also received the college’s Dean’s Award, which is given to one student from each of the University’s seven academic colleges. 

“(Jeffery's) presence in the classroom was marked by intellectual maturity and an inclusive mindset. He navigated complex and sensitive topics with grace, helping foster a safe environment for classmates to explore issues around education, equity and social justice.” -- Greg Shaw, interim dean for the College of Education

 The White House visit included a meeting with then-President Joe Biden in the Oval Office.

“The whole visit, everything we did, it felt other worldly,” said Benson, who plans to write a book about the experience. “(Biden) greeted every single family and shook everybody's hands and held their hands. It was a powerful moment with my mother I’ll never forget.”

The visit reignited Benson’s educational aspirations, reminding him of his “North Star” goal of finishing his education. Growing up, he attended school in Kansas and in the summers visited his father, who was a Fine Arts professor at CSU Fullerton.

Benson moved to the West Coast after high school and spent about a decade working in retail, sales and technology while intermittently pursuing his education. Frequent moves for his jobs made completing his degree a challenge, but he eventually resettled in Sacramento, attending American River College and Sacramento City College.

While working as a driver delivering to Sac State, Benson felt drawn to the campus, eventually leading him to enroll.

“I’d have this really visceral experience of knowing that it had to do with my education and me not having finished it,” said Benson, who currently works as a state, local and education procurement consultant for Gordian, a well-known business management consulting company.

He had a similar experience when delivering to McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific, where he enrolled following his White House visit and is pursuing his master’s of science in Law, concentrating on government law and policy.

Benson is a lifelong civil rights advocate. His now-defunct nonprofit, SWAG, focused on dismantling systemic inequities for underserved communities. He said his “North-North Star” goal is to attend law school, obtain his doctorate of law and serve as an attorney and policy advocacy analyst in the California Department of Justice or Department of Education.

Greg Shaw, interim dean for the College of Education, said Benson served as a mentor to other students and created a sense of community among his peers.

“His presence in the classroom was marked by intellectual maturity and an inclusive mindset,” Shaw said. “He navigated complex and sensitive topics with grace, helping foster a safe environment for classmates to explore issues around education, equity and social justice.”

Benson said no matter what path someone takes in life – whether it’s a traditional approach or one that disrupts the status quo – the important thing is to continue reaching for the stars.

“I'm of the mindset now that I don't let anything hold me back,” he said. “I can do anything if I put my mind to it, and everybody should be at that juncture in their life. We all have to carve our own pathways. Just know you're going to fall, but once you fall, you can get right back up again.”

Read the inspiring stories of the other Deans' Awards recipients.