By Lookout Staff

June 18, 2013 -- Brenda Johnson Benson -- who has been instrumental in making Santa Monica College the top transfer school in the state -- has been named SMC’s 2013 Manager of the Year.

Picture courtesy of Santa Monica College

As Dean of Counseling and Retention, Benson has for nearly 30 years provided crucial support services to “both retain students until graduation and to support them with tools needed to succeed both during and after their time at SMC,” college officials said.

“Brenda personifies the best of Santa Monica College, combining a nurturing and supportive management style with a push for constant improvement and innovation,” said SMC President Dr. Chui L. Tsang. “She is truly an outstanding manager.”

One year after Benson became coordinator/assistant dean of transfer services in 1988, SMC first distinguished itself for sending more students to the University of California system than any other community college in the state.

“Brenda is a strong and unyielding advocate for her students, colleagues and the community college mission,” said SMC Transfer Center faculty leader Dan Nannini, “She is an educator for the educators and, for this, she is held in the highest regard.”

In 1998, Benson was promoted to her current position as Dean of Counseling and Retention. Her department works with other campus programs and departments to “deliver a myriad of orientation events, workshops and courses, all designed to lead to student success,” officials said.

“Over the past 15 years these programs have proven to be key in supporting SMC students to complete their education and achieve their goals,” officials said.   

In addition, Benson oversees ten specialized counseling programs that serve more tha 600 student veterans, as well as other underrepresented student populations.

Benson, who has been active on statewide committees related to counseling and transfer, co-authored the minimum standards for California Community College Transfer Centers.  She currently is near the end of a one-year term as president of the SMC Management Association.

Benson was recently named an outstanding educator by the L.A. Weekly.