Sandra S. ("Sandy") Benson, J.D., Professor of Business Law, earned her B.A. in economics and business administration from Vanderbilt University and her J.D. from the University of Georgia (summa cum laude). She established her own law firm representing entrepreneurs and professionals in a variety of business and specialized transactions, such as establishing new business organizations, drafting employment and other contracts, and compliance with healthcare laws and regulations. The Tennessee Medical Association endorsed her to represent physicians in managed care contract negotiations.

Joining MTSU full-time in 2006, Professor Benson teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in corporate governance and fraud, commercial and contracts law, and health law. She draws on her 12 years of experience in practicing law and her love for teaching when designing her classroom activities and her own research. Her research focuses on emerging issues related to fraud, accountant liability, healthcare, and effective pedagogy in business law.  Her work and expertise have been recognized by The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, the New York Society of CPAs, and CNBC.  She has served on the Editorial Advisory Board of The CPA Journal and was formerly the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal in Legal Studies Education.

Benson has received several awards for excellence, research and teaching, including the MTSU Foundation Award - Outstanding Teaching 2012-2013, Accounting Advisory Board Partnership Awards (April 2017, September 2021, and February 2025), and E.W. “Wink” Midgett Awards (Distinguished Teaching April 2018 and Faculty Excellence April 2017). She was selected as a Master Teacher Finalist, in the international Charles M. Hewitt Competition, Academy of Legal Studies in Business, August 2013.  Benson also completed training and was one of the certified Dale Carnegie® instructors teaching the cutting-edge Dale Carnegie® Communication & Human Relations Seminar to undergraduate students in the Jones College of Business (2017-2020). She serves or has served on numerous committees and leadership roles, such as the Department of Accounting Tenure and Promotion Committee (Chair 2023-24), the JCOB Charitable Campaign (Chair 2013, Co-Chair 2014), JCOB Student Success Committee (Chair AY 17-18), and twice as Interim Chair for the Department of Accounting (AY 2014-15 and AY 2024-25). She was selected to participate in MTSU’s Leadership on Deck Cohort IV (AY 24-25).  

Benson especially enjoys designing courses and activities to provide interactive opportunities for learners to build career-enhancing communication and critical thinking skills while exploring real-world legal and ethical issues affecting accounting, business, human resources, or healthcare. With input from the Department of Accounting Advisory Board, colleagues and students, Benson designed a Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Fraud course now required for MAcc students to gain and integrate knowledge of ethics, business, accounting, and law.  Approved as an MT Engage and EXL (experiential) course, learners apply critical and strategic thinking skills, written and oral advocacy skills, listening and deliberation skills as they participate in various roles in her unique "The Court Experience" activity. Benson also takes pleasure in teaching undergraduate accounting students in her MT Engage and EXL (experiential) approved versions of Commercial Law in which students explore relevant topics in contracts and the UCC. For AY 2022-23, Benson received funding from MTSU's Learning, Teaching, and Technologies Center and MT Online to facilitate two MTSU faculty learning communities on “Successfully Engaging Students in the Virtual Learning Environment.” She continuously updates her courses to encompass timely legal issues and career-ready skills for graduate learners in the Master of Accounting, MBA, MPS Human Resources programs. In addition to encouraging incorporating technology, Benson emphasizes presentation, engaged discussion and constructive feedback skills in her virtual learning classrooms. 

Professor Benson began working closely with the Nashville School of Law, MTSU administration, and colleagues in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, and the College of Liberal Arts in AY 22-23 to develop a proposal for a new M.S. in Legal Studies degree.  As the proposal went through the State and University approval processes, Benson collaborated to develop curriculum for three concentrations and began serving as the Program Director in AY 25-25. This unique program approved by THEC and SACSCOC in Spring 25 is housed in the Department of Accounting in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business and offered in collaboration with NSL with classes to begin in the Summer 2026. The program is designed for business professionals to gain deeper legal knowledge and skills in business law, entertainment, or anti-money laundering, fraud and compliance.  Professor Benson and her family are True Blue - she has two daughters and two sons-in-law who earned graduate degrees from MTSU - spanning business, psychology, and biology! Benson’s hobbies include running and participating in races, recently placing first in her age division in the Hot Chocolate Run (5K). She also likes to hike and travel with family and friends.    

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