Originally published May 20, 2025, by Sacramento State University Communications

Jeffery Benson calls himself a disruptor because he’s never been one to follow the traditional path.

The 61-year-old graduated from Sac State with his bachelor’s degree in Career and Technical Studies in December 2024. In May, he returned to offer words of wisdom and encouragement to fellow Class of 2025 graduates during Spring Commencement, where he proudly represented the College of Education as its Dean’s Award recipient and accepted the President’s Medal as the University’s top graduate.

A native of Topeka, Kansas, Benson’s ties to the civil rights movement run deep. His mother, aunt and grandmother were three of the 13 original plaintiffs in the historic 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case that led to U.S. school desegregation. His father also attended the segregated Monroe Elementary School, which was at the center of the case.

• Learn more about Jeffery Benson: Lifelong learner and civil rights advocate Jeffery Benson treads his own path to a degree

It’s a legacy that has become a driving force in everything Benson has done throughout his life and career.

Benson, who is now pursuing his master’s of science in Law at McGeorge School of Law, joined “Beyond J” to discuss the many stops he had along his journey to a degree, including the unique experience that inspired him to attend Sac State, his visit to the White House for the 70th anniversary of the landmark case, meeting former President Joe Biden, and his aspirations to obtain his doctorate of law and serve as an attorney and policy advocacy analyst for the state.

The episode also includes Benson’s Commencement speech, delivered to College of Education graduates on May 17.

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Editor’s Note: While I did not have any involvement in recording, performing or producing the podcast episode itself, I did contribute to it by providing information and potential questions based on my interview with Jeffery Benson and the subsequent story I wrote about him.