Shawn Benner has been named interim dean of the College of Innovation and Design.
Benner has served as the associate dean in the College of Innovation and Design since 2018 and the co-founding director of the Human-Environment Systems Program since 2014.
“I am excited to work with Dr. Benner in this new capacity to continue to move the College of Innovation and Design forward,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter.
President Marlene Tromp noted that “Dr. Benner has the insights to help spark innovation all across campus — and beyond — and to drive forward Boise State’s truly transformative and pathbreaking character. His keen interest in both collaboration and impact make him the right choice for this exciting moment in CID’s and Boise State’s history.”
Benner received his bachelor of arts from Colorado College, master of science from the University of Montana and his Ph.D. focused on hydrogeology, geochemistry and microbiology from the University in Waterloo. His scholarship focuses on student-oriented environmental research addressing problems of immediate value to society.
“I am honored to lead this next chapter pursuing the college’s mission to help create the future Boise State,” Benner said. “As a catalyst and collaborator, our college is excited to work with our colleagues on campus and our partners in the community to continue to grow Boise State’s value for our students and all of Idaho.”
He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications. Prior to joining Boise State, Benner held a post-doctoral position at Stanford University and was a researcher at the Desert Research Institute. As a professor in the Department of Geosciences at Boise State, Benner helped build the innovative ‘sophomore core’ undergraduate curriculum, which helped more than double major recruitment and retention. He also was the Boise State lead on the multi-institutional, $25 million Idaho NSF-EPSCoR Program, managed the Trace Analytical Facility, and co-founded the Human-Environment Systems program.