Jeremy P. Benson

Jeremy P. Benson is an Associate Professor at Rhode Island College with dual appointments in the Department of English and the Department of Educational Studies. His scholarly and activist work critically examines the links among race, class, political economy, and urban education within the framework of neoliberal capitalism and systemic inequality in U.S. society.

His academic credentials include:

• Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers College
• Master of Arts in Teaching from The College of New Jersey
• Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education (specializing in Educational Policy) from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York

Dr. Benson's research program centers on critical educational policy studies, investigating how neoliberal policies intensify educational disparities through mass incarceration, racialized school knowledge, and the criminalization of marginalized communities. He integrates critical race theory with political economy analysis to deconstruct normative conceptions of childhood and literacy, advocating for transformative social justice education that challenges structural inequities in schooling.

His publication analysis reveals a cohesive scholarly trajectory examining education's role within the neoliberal state, particularly its intersection with crime control mechanisms and the construction of racialized identities. These works collectively span urban education, curriculum theory, and critical policy studies, emphasizing how schooling reinforces economic and social hierarchies through seemingly neutral reforms.

As an educator, Dr. Benson teaches First Year Writing (FYW 100) and secondary education courses including SED 411 (Content and Pedagogy) and SED 422 (Student Teaching Seminar), drawing on his prior experience as a New Jersey high school English teacher. While specific graduate students and research grants are not documented in available materials, his field-based teaching demonstrates active mentorship of pre-service educators through practicum supervision.