The Benson Family Funds an Endowed Chair in the History Department
In 2004, a gift from the Benson Family Foundation of Portland, Ore., created the first fully funded, endowed chair at PLU, the Benson Family Chair in Business and Economic History. The Benson Family Foundation was created by Dale and Jolita Benson with a $3.4 million gift, the larger portion of which was intended for the benefit of PLU as one of the independent foundation’s two supported organizations.
“We envision the Benson Family Chair as providing the opportunities for students in history, economics and business to understand the political, social and philosophical contexts of current economic history,” Dale Benson said.
In the years since the founding of the original endowed chair in the History department, the program has developed a range of courses in History and related disciplines, a lecture series focused on business and economic history, an academic minor in Innovation Studies, a summer research fellowship for students and faculty, and funds to support a faculty position, research, and programming. The Benson Family Chair also plays an important role on campus, elevating the study of history and the liberal arts, while fostering new connections with educators and community partners.
Dale and Jolita Benson
The Bensons both attended PLU in the early 1960s. Dale Benson earned a bachelor’s degree in history at PLU in 1963 and both a master’s and a doctorate from the University of Maine. He says his career in the financial industry has been heavily influenced by his liberal arts background and understanding of the historical roots of the American economy.
The Bensons are parents of four daughters, three of whom are PLU graduates. One of the purposes of the Benson Family Foundation is to involve the Benson children and their families in charitable activities on behalf of supported organizations.
Previous Holders of the Benson Family Chair
The initial holder of the Benson Family Chair in Business and Economic History was E. Wayne Carp, faculty emeritus, who served in the role from 2004 to 2016. Professor Carp is an internationally recognized scholar on the history of adoption, and taught in the PLU History Department for 30 years. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1981, and initiated the Dale E. Benson Lecture in Business and Economic History, which has brought numerous scholars to campus since the first endowed lecture in 2006.
The second Benson Family Chair in Business and Economic History was Michael J. Halvorson, who served in the role from 2016 to 2026. Professor Halvorson joined the History department in 2003 and was appointed Professor of History in 2017. He co-founded the Innovation Studies program and served as its inaugural program director from 2017 to 2024, using the Benson position to strengthen interdisciplinary connections across campus. Halvorson also started the Benson Student-Faculty Summer Research program.
The current Benson Family Chair in History is Rebekah Mergenthal, Associate Professor of History. Dr. Mergenthal became the third holder of the Benson Chair in September, 2026. At the time of her appointment, the university changed the name of the endowed chair to Benson Family Chair in History, to broaden the scope of the chair and extend its influence.
