Dr. Kim Benton: MELFA’s new president-elect
Dr. Kim Benton of William Carey University is the new president-elect of the Mississippi Education Leadership Faculty Association (MELFA) – which represents colleges and universities that have educational leadership programs.
“MELFA provides a structured forum for educational leadership faculty to collaborate and strengthen graduate programs across our state. It is truly an honor to serve in this capacity and represent William Carey University,” Benton said.
Benton worked in public education in Mississippi for 37 years. She spent much of her career in the Meridian Public School District as a teacher, principal and executive director of special populations and federal programs before joining the Mississippi Department of Education in 2010.
In 2013, she was appointed to the position of chief academic officer/chief deputy superintendent of the Mississippi Department of Education, where she worked to strengthen the state’s schools through innovative programs until her retirement in 2018.
In summer 2018, Benton joined William Carey University, where she serves on the faculty of the Educational Leadership Department of the School of Education.
“I worked with Dr. Benton extensively when she was chief academic officer for MDE. We are proud that someone with her experience, work ethic and character chose to join William Carey’s School of Education as we strive to mold tomorrow’s teachers and leaders,” said Dr. Ben Burnett, WCU’s acting executive vice president and dean of the WCU School of Education.
Dr. Kim Benton and her husband, Dr. Gary Benton, retired chair of education at Mississippi State University-Meridian, have five children and 12 grandchildren. They are active members of First Baptist Church in Newton and live in Hickory.