Dr. Greg Benson and Dr. Ben Brachle Receive the Wayne Klein Teaching Excellence Award

Dr. Greg Benson and Dr. Ben Brachle both bring a wealth of experience to the classroom. 

For Dr. Benson, his real-world experience in the private sector includes his upper-level positions at both Eaton Corporation and Precision Industries. Dr. Brachle’s work spans from his time at Black and Decker to the consultation work he did for the government as well as a multitude of organizations.

It’s more than just their combined decades of experience in the area of supply chain management that make them the type of teachers recognized for such a prestigious award though. Both professors bring to the classroom the relationship piece as well as a passion for creating an enriching learning environment. Their work in the classroom embodies what the Wayne Klein Teaching Excellence Award represents. Through their dedication to students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, they have made outstanding contributions in the classroom and are a gift to the College of Business and Technology. 

For Dr. Greg Benson, who relies on his own “personal kinesthetic learning preference” as well as his industry experiences, teaching at bet36365体育’s College of Business and Technology “fits very well with (his) teaching philosophy and objectives.” He strives to make his class content “relevant and interesting” to his students because he understands he is preparing them for their profession rather than just making it possible for them to remember material for a test.  

Dr. Ben Brachle couldn’t agree more. He strives to “have a positive learning environment” because he knows his work as an instructor involves preparing his students for “when they get out in the real world and make a difference.” In his classes, he makes sure his students are given opportunities to “focus on critical thinking and problem solving” because he knows the world is rapidly changing and that his students will need to have the mindset of lifelong learners in order to succeed.

For both professors, their past experience in supply chain management keeps their focus in the right place as they teach their classes. Dr. Brachle explains how he “draws on a lot of (his) experience” as he plans his lessons. He shares how he asks himself how he can teach his students to use the information he is teaching them to solve problems. Sometimes this involves role playing, often it is in the form of experiential learning, and always he stresses to them that if they’re going to “mess up,” they need to “mess up in the classroom.”

Dr. Benson’s teaching philosophy has its roots in his past. He explains how his “industry experience in supply chain management taught (him) that there are many ways to solve problems.” As he plans his lessons, he is aware that the “ability to solve problems” depends on “a person’s persistence, inquisitiveness, creativity, and understanding that sometimes a proposed solution to a problem fails.” 

This growth mindset is evident in both professor’s classrooms because, as Dr. Benson explains “one’s experience of failure” is an important part of learning that can “often be applied to future problems.” Dr. Brachle too strives to create an environment where his students are not afraid to fail because he knows it is “so important to not be afraid to try things in the classroom” as well as when they are future professionals. He ponders how, as an instructor, he is preparing his students for “technology and problems that are not even on the radar yet.” 

Dr. Benson explains how his teaching style is intuitive. He remembers some of his own college instructors reading the textbook instead of allowing students to actively participate. The classes, understandably, were his least favorite ones. Now that he is the teacher, he deliberately creates an environment for his students that is authentic, one where he shares “industry and personal experiences” and willingly admits to them when he makes mistakes. He shares that he uses humor, makes sure to know his students by their first name, and doesn’t “take (himself) too seriously.” 

Dr. Brachle, who has experience as a high school teacher, understands that “education equals practice.” He personally always tries to learn and stay current in order to be a better teacher for his students. He shares how he is constantly trying “to find stuff that works” in order to give his students what they will need for their future. He impresses upon them that while they are in his classes, they need to build themselves because he takes seriously the responsibility of giving them the experiences to become who they need to be as future professionals.

Dr. Benson explains how, over the years, he has come to realize that “students have a lot going on in their life besides the learning material” and that they “don’t expect instructors to be perfect teachers.” These two realizations helped him to understand that he plays a part in preparing his students for life after graduation by helping them “develop behaviors needed to be successful.” Much like Dr. Brachle, who enjoys watching students “develop themselves” and appreciates when they come back to share their successes with him, Dr. Benson has many times received emails or had alumni personally share with him how his class helped them “either directly in their job” or to “navigate life after college.”

Both CBT professors know that the goal of bet36365体育 is to prepare students for success when they leave campus. Their personal combined contributions and dedicated efforts to help their students made them an obvious choice for the Wayne Klein Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Benson shares how “receiving this award affirms that the time and effort spent, both inside and outside of the classroom, teaching, mentoring, encouraging, and sharing life experiences with students is worth it.” Dr. Brachle is honored to have received such a prestigious award. He explains that he tries to always set the standard for students at the beginning of each semester and strives to create an environment where they “get something every day” from him as an instructor. 

The experiential learning culture that is the hallmark of the College of Business and Technology is exemplified in the classrooms of Dr. Greg Benson and Dr. Ben Brachle. Receiving this award is an honor that represents their commitment to students. Their dedication and cutting-edge practices are an inspiration to everyone at bet36365体育.