Andrew K. Benton
7th President of Pepperdine University
In office
July 1, 2000 – July 31, 2019
Preceded byDavid Davenport
Succeeded byJim Gash
Personal details
Bornc. 1952 (age 71–72)
Kansas, U.S.
SpouseDeborah
Alma materOklahoma Christian University (BA)
Oklahoma City University (JD)

Andrew K. Benton (born c. 1952) is an American lawyer and academic administrator who served as the seventh president of Pepperdine University and as an interim president at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Early life

Benton was born in Lawrence, Kansas.[1][2] He graduated from Oklahoma Christian University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies in 1974, and he earned a J.D. from Oklahoma City University.[3][4]

Career

Benton began his career as a lawyer in Oklahoma.[3] He was an assistant to the president of his alma mater, Oklahoma Christian University, from 1975 to 1984.[5]

Benton joined Pepperdine University in 1984.[3] He served as its vice president from 1991 to 1999.[3] He served as its president from 2000 to 2019, becoming the longest-serving person to hold the office.[3] During the course of his presidency, "Total University assets have increased by more than $1 billion."[2] His presidency also saw the construction of the Drescher graduate campus and the establishment of campuses in Lausanne and Shanghai.[6] When Jim Gash succeeded him in 2019, Benton took on the role of president emeritus.[2][7] A road on the university's Malibu campus was renamed Benton Way in honor of his service to the university.

While serving at Pepperdine, Benton was also named the vice chair, and later the chair, of the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).[1]

Benton was honored as a distinguished alumnus by Oklahoma Christian University in 2000.[4] In 2023, Benton became the interim president of the University of Central Oklahoma after Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar resigned.[8]

Personal life

With his wife Deborah, Benton has a son and a daughter.[3] He is a member of the Churches of Christ.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Joanne (July 5, 2017). "Pepperdine President Named Chair of NAICU Board of Directors". Canyon News. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Pepperdine University President Andrew K. Benton to Conclude Presidency in 2019". Pepperdine University. March 14, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Weiss, Kenneth R. (December 8, 1999). "Pepperdine to Elevate Its Top V.P. to Presidency". The Los Angeles Times. p. 42. Retrieved October 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Oklahoma Christian honors alumni, friends". The Daily Oklahoman. November 20, 2000. p. 37. Retrieved October 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Oklahoman gains university post". The Daily Oklahoman. December 10, 1999. p. 29. Retrieved October 4, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Abel, Judy (March 21, 2018). "Andrew K. Benton to retire following 2018-19 school year". The Malibu Times. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  7. ↑ "James A. Gash Named Eighth President and CEO of Pepperdine University Pepperdine University". www.pepperdine.edu. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Retired Pepperdine University President named UCO Interim President". November 18, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
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