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 If you've passed a group of junior and senior high school students in the halls
of Baylor College of Dentistry, then you've probably run into Darla Benson, educational program coordinator in the Office of Student Development. She works with the college's Bridge to Dentistry programs,
which means she spends a lot of late evenings, Saturdays and weekends with the students. This summer, she'll spend an entire week with them at Prairie View A&M University while
they complete the college enrichment portion of the Summer Academic Enrichment Program - and Benson couldn't be happier.
Known for her contagious smile and competent diligence, Benson has served BCD for nearly four years. She also is known for her devotion to her family and
friends. "I've been married to my wonderful husband, Dusty, for 27 years," she said. "We have two children. Amber, 23, is a graduate student and research assistant at
Mississippi State University, where she is majoring in computational engineering. Blake, 25, is employed at DFW Airport with an international airline."
Hometown: I grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and moved to Irving, Texas, in 1989. I had to learn to adjust to big-city life, and now I'm the only one in our family who can get
around Dallas without a Mapsco in the car.
Place I'd like to live/retire: I've always wanted to live in the country, preferably in East Texas in a rustic-style home with lots of land. My retirement place would be
surrounded by pine trees and include either a fishing pond or a creek running through the property.
Role models: My high school choir director encouraged me to compete for all-region and all-state choir and to practice, practice, practice until I got it right. My mom is my
rock and my unbiased sounding board, and she lets me vent when I'm mad.
Personal motto: Just do your best!
Best thing about my job or BCD: I love working with young people. It's wonderful to see the light finally go on in the students' heads when they learn something exciting or
realize they CAN do what they set out to do. Their enthusiasm is so contagious!
Career highlight: Directing the summer programs for high school students has been the highlight of my career at BCD. However, seeing my first landscape design installed
and viewing the finished product was pretty awesome as well. So was working on a project for Gene Hackman's home in Santa Fe, N.M., and Don Henley's home in Dallas. Hmmmm, it's hard to choose just one.
If I wasn't at BCD, I'd: be out digging in the dirt, working in the yard or sitting at my drafting table.
Life philosophy: Be happy with your life and what you make of yourself, and don't forget to make time for the people you love.
Pet peeves: 1. I've never liked gossip and never will. It destroys good friendships! 2. I don't like it when people (friends, family, etc.) call me at work "just to talk" or "to catch
up on the news."
Favorite vacation destination: I took five teenage girls to Europe for three weeks. I would love to go back to Switzerland and Munich, Germany, to sightsee and hike in the
hills. Next time, I want to see everything and enjoy the people and the culture - only at a much slower pace.
Dream car: I've never really had a dream car in mind, but I wouldn't mind owning a pickup truck to pull the fishing boat or to haul plants and compost whenever I wanted to.
Favorite hobby: Fishing is so relaxing, but I haven't been able to do that in a while.
Word that best describes me: Just one? Creative, organized, stubborn (just ask my husband!).
Something you might not know about me: I've been a Girl Scout Leader for 15 years, and I know a lot about native landscape design.
Top three passions: Chocolate, my family, and camping and fishing. Don't tell my family I put them second!
What my colleagues say about me: "Darla is a blessing to the Office of Student Development, to the college and to BCD's outreach programs," said Dr. Ernie Brooks
(BCD '94, '96), director of student development. "She is a self-starter, has the ability to work independently and multitasks. When I assign her a project, I know that it will be
done and done well! She is conscientious, tenacious and diligent.
"I also appreciate the fact that Darla is committed to her family and her community," Brooks continued. "It's obvious that she loves her husband and children. She also
devotes much of her spare time to working with the Girl Scouts and getting them involved in some of BCD's outreach activities."
Donna Duncan-Lewis, administrative assistant in academic services, agrees. "Darla is very dedicated to her work and goes the extra, extra mile to make sure the programs
are successful," she said. "She is a reliable asset to this college, and I am very proud to be her colleague and friend."
Sheryl Hornback, education specialist in student development, appreciates Benson as well. "Darla is organized and she's a good planner. She's able to 'go with the flow' and
that's important since her programs are for junior and senior high students," Hornback said. "Darla also is thoughtful, coming up with creative little gifts that mean so much. Her
smile lights up her whole face."
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