Gerald Benjamin ‘65
Major:Government
Profession: Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Professor of Political Science at SUNY New Paltz
Hometown: New Paltz, NY

It was through the encouragement and advising of Professor Harry Reiff that Gerald Benjamin continued his education after St. Lawrence and became a professor himself. One of the main ways that Reiff influenced Gerald was by encouraging him to write a seniors honor project, which forced him to refine his critical thinking skills. A government major, Gerald was Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity’s representative to the Thelmothesian Society, St. Lawrence’s student government body.
After graduation from St. Lawrence, Gerald went on to graduate school at Columbia University. He became an assistant professor of political science at SUNY New Paltz in 1968. He has continued there and is currently the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and a professor of political science. Along with receiving an Alumni Citation from St. Lawrence in May 2002, Gerald has also won several other awards throughout his career. Most recently he was appointed to the position of Distinguished Professor by the State University of New York Board of Trustees.