Meghan Benson

About Meghan Benson

Duke University Divinity School (DDS) Chaplain ~ July 2015–Present I serve as the primary pastoral presence for the Divinity student body and wider community, serving as central resource hub and connecting students to support networks within and outside the school. I co-chair the Student Support Team which seeks to offer case management, guidance, and intervention to students across a wide range of issues, including acute crises. I also work on matters of academic integrity and behavior concerns, including the Academic Policies Committee and Judicial Board, and I serve as an academic advisor. I also oversee all Duke Divinity School worship services (three times weekly). This includes supervision of a team of six student interns to plan and implement diverse, vibrant, and theologically sound worship services. I set the worship calendar, including student and faculty preachers and worship series, and I manage both professional and volunteer music staff. I am the primary worship leader, with occasional preaching. I also orchestrate the Divinity School’s Opening and Closing Convocation and Baccalaureate services each year. For 6 years I managed the Spiritual Formation program for DDS (July 2015-August 2021 until program restructure). In this capacity, I recruited, hired, and trained local faith leaders (approx. 14) to lead spiritual formation groups for first-year students (curricular requirement), as well as optional groups for upper class students. I worked on an in-depth evaluation of the program, including implementing new curriculum. Other Responsibilities •Serve as a preceptor Intro to Pastoral Care course, training students in role-play scenarios with in-depth reflections. •Panelist on Advocacy & Activist panel for Duke’s Diversify IT (OIT) efforts in Dec 2022 re: navigating difference in the workplace •Chair of Search Committee for Senior Director of Academics and Registrar in Fall 2018 •Participant in interfaith gathering of approx 15 chaplains at Bar Ilan University in Israel in 2018 for engagement with campus chaplains from various religious traditions. Presented on the function of sacred space on campus. •Served on various search and other committees including revamping Divinity Orientation, revising Conduct Covenant, and Christian Vocation and Formation. •Routinely provide leadership for summer field education reflection groups and first-year spiritual formation groups Ordained Elder in the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church •Ordained as probationary elder in June 2007 •Ordained elder-in-full-connection in June 2009

Experience

1. Chaplain

   Duke Divinity School

   Jul 2015 — Present · Durham, NC, US

Education

• Southern Methodist University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

  1994 — 1998

• Duke University

  Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

  1999 — 2002

Skills

• Missions
• Biblical Studies
• Theology
• Teaching
• Youth Ministry
• Liturgy
• Volunteer Management
• Community Outreach
• Religious Studies
• Preaching
• Pastoral Care
• Discipleship
• Non-Profits
• Public Speaking
• Religion