Christine “Chris” Benson brings more than fifteen years of higher education experience in student affairs, retention, and academic affairs. She currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Madonna University in Michigan. Chris has oversight of student conduct, student life, residence life, counseling and disability resources, transitions services, and academic probation/reinstatement. Additionally, she has over a decade of experience managing program budgets, coordinating hiring and professional development opportunities, as well as conducting program evaluation. Chris also has served as Title IX Coordinator and Graduate Program Director for the Higher Education Administration (HEA) master’s program for three years. Previously, she was the Associate Dean of Academic Advising and the First-Year Experience where she administered three offices focused on heightening student success, inclusive of the office of Academic Advising, the Office of the First-Year Experience, and The Center for Students in Transition. During her tenure in this role, first-year student retention increased from 70% to 84%. Chris earned her Ph.D. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University. She earned a master’s in teaching and learning and a bachelor’s in communications from Madonna University.