B.S., University of Florida, 1965
M.S., University of South Florida, 1967
Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 1977
Environmental Chemistry. Dr. Benson conducted independent and collaborative research during his time at USF, particularly involving solutions of environmental problems related to phosphate mining in the State and a means of improving yield from phosphate ores contaminated with magnesium, for which he received a patent.
From 1990 to 2001, Benson entered the teaching profession and served as a Chemistry Instructor at the University of South Florida, Tampa campus. He taught Instrumental Analysis, General Chemistry and the "Chemistry for Today" course that utilized the ACS Chemistry in Context textbook. His innovations in the majors' course included the introduction of the LABWORKS Interfaces for computer-assisted data acquisition and the assignment of senior course projects, which applied the instrumentation to real world problems of environmental pollution in the local area.