MEET THE TEAM
Dr. Sherri Benn
Vice President for Global, Community and First- Gen Initiatives
Dr. Sherri Benn is the Vice President for the Lozano Long Division of Global, Community, and First-Generation Initiatives at Tarleton State University. Passionate about supporting all Texans—including students from more than 50 countries—she is dedicated to creating a welcoming environment where everyone can thrive. Her work focuses on global engagement, community partnerships, first-generation student success, and expanding access to learning across Tarleton’s campuses.
A strong advocate for veterans and active service members, Dr. Benn helps ensure Tarleton remains a military-friendly campus. With extensive experience in higher education leadership, she believes success comes from collaboration and keeping students at the center of every effort. She also serves on the Executive Committee of APLU’s Commission on International Initiatives.
Dr. Benn earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and has completed leadership programs at UC Berkeley and EAB.
Dr. Crystal Martinez-Smith
Interim Assistant Vice President of
Global, Community, and First-Gen Initiatives
(254) 968-9498
Rachael Weldon-Caron
Assistant Vice President of
TRIO Programs and First-Gen Initiatives
