Deb Benton named associate provost for student success technology strategy

Ohio University Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Elizabeth Sayrs has named Deb Benton as associate provost for student success technology strategy.

Benton, who currently serves as University Registrar, will begin her new role on Nov. 1, 2023.  Senior Associate Registrar Bob Bulow has been named interim university registrar, effective Nov. 1.

“Deb Benton has already accomplished a great deal during her time at OHIO and I am looking forward to working with her in this new role,” Sayrs said. “I am confident that she will continue to excel in this new position due to her knowledge, experience and dedication to helping our students succeed.”

Benton originally came to Ohio University as a first–generation college student, completing her bachelor of science degree with a major in mathematics and with a minor in computer science in 1991, and her master’s of education degree in educational leadership – college student personnel in 1993.

As a work study student in the late 1980s, Benton assisted with the implementation of the original DARS system, which was the first university-wide degree audit system implemented at OHIO.

In 1993, she began working for the Office of the University Registrar as the assistant registrar for DARS and then was promoted to associate university registrar in 1996 and then University Registrar in 2001.

“More than 819,000 transcripts have been marked with Deb’s signature during her service as University Registrar, but that fact doesn’t begin to describe the mark she has made on the student and faculty experience over multiple decades in the role,” Vice President for Enrollment Management Candace J. Boeninger said. “Deb has led with collegiality and collaboration, unfailing integrity and a steadfast commitment to excellence—skills that surely will help her succeed in this new role.”

One recent initiative that Benton led was the creation of the software to support the launch of the OHIO Guarantee+ Graduation Plans. The Office of the University Registrar collaborated with numerous partners on the project in order to design and develop a custom technology solution to support the Graduation Plans.

In addition, Benton worked with the Reimagining General Education Leadership Team to implement the OHIO BRICKS general education requirements for incoming students in Fall 2021.

Also under Benton’s leadership, the Office of the University Registrar played an instrumental role, working with additional University offices, in creating a policy that supports the use of pronouns and preferred names for all students.

Highly regarded in her field, Benton has presented at state and national convenings on her work and has served as past president of the Ohio Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. She received the OACRAO Linus J. Ryland Award in 2000 for distinguished service and the Ohio College Personnel Association Equity and Inclusion Award in 2016. 

Vice President Boeninger will begin the search process for the University Registrar in the coming weeks.