Rachel LoMonaco-Benzing’s journey to becoming an inspiring and impactful professor was anything but typical. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island and receiving a Bachelor of Science in textile, fashion, merchandising and design, with an apparel design focus and a Bachelor of Arts in French Language and Literature, she began working for the Peace Corps. In Guinea, she used her extensive French language skills and during this time, she was sure that teaching was far from her path.
However, her love for textiles called her back to the United States to earn her master's degree in historical and cultural aspects of textiles and clothing, again at the University of Rhode Island. During this time, she began a teaching assistantship that would change the course of her life and impact her student’s lives forever.
Her assistantship under George DuBois was her first time working directly with students, “I was in the classroom actually working directly with students in a textile lab and I had never in my life before that moment been interested in teaching,” LoMonaco-Benzing said.
It was DuBois’ teaching style and impact on students that is something that guides the School of Fashion professor in her teachings to this day. “I think that was really formative for me because he had so much industry context, and I really enjoyed that approach. And he gave me a lot of freedom to really be engaged in the classroom and help teach and mentor the students directly,” said LoMonaco-Benzings. Lomonaco-Benzing attributes a lot of her success as an educator to the real-world application approach to teaching.
After her assistantship, however, LoMonaco-Benzing did not immediately jump straight into teaching. First, she began working with a sustainably focused company based out of Boston for four years. During that time, DuBois shared with her that he was retiring from teaching and would like her to take his place teaching textile labs. With big shoes to fill, she became an adjunct professor for four years, then decided to continue her education at the University of Missouri, where LoMonaco-Benzing earned her Ph.D. in Textiles and Apparel Management.
The professor’s path then took an important turn when she arrived at Kent State University. Kent State offered Lomonaco-Benzing the opportunity to break away from teaching data-centered classes which was the focus of most of the other jobs she had applied for, and really dig into materials. “I loved the idea of coming to Kent because I was excited about the opportunity to still work on the merchandising side and the business side, but to do it from a perspective of the materials and products,” Lomonaco-Benzing stated.
At Kent State, LoMonaco-Benzing teaches both apparel analysis and fashion fabrics lab every year and has taught an Honors College section of Seminar in Fashion Merchandising for three separate years as well. Some years, she has been on committees and was an advisor for the Senior Honors Thesis/Project for graduating honors students and has also instructed some graduate classes along the way. LoMonaco-Benzing has a special calling in apparel analysis and fashion fabrics, as she is able to engage students through materials and hands-on experiences. She is also known to create real-world connections to the content within the syllabi, which assists her students as they begin working in the professional field of fashion.
LoMonaco-Benzing, Ph.D., has also served as the faculty advisor for Kent State’s NRFSA (National Retail Federation Student Association) chapter for the past five years. Her duties include guiding students with professional development, helping to create networking and alumni speaker opportunities, and assisting with scholarship and interview opportunities. One of the Distinguished Honors Award recipient’s favorite memories was participating in a Zoom call between current NRF Student Association leadership board members and past board members, discussing their professional developments and journeys. She was able to witness the successes of the students she had guided in previous years and gave her current students the opportunity to see the world of possibilities that awaits them after graduation.
As an impactful educator in both the Honors College and School of Fashion, LoMonaco-Benzing encourages other instructors to be attentive to students and strive to give them the tools they need to flourish. “I think understanding your students, listening to students, and finding ways for them to be able to shine is important. And that's part of why I've spent a lot of time working one-on-one with students through scholarships, ” she said.
The 2024 Distinguished Honors Faculty Award recognizes LoMonaco-Benzing for her impact on students, and she encourages them to “Continue to be curious. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions.”
LoMonaco-Benzing received the 2024 Distinguished Honors Faculty Award at the 38th Annual Senior Honors Luncheon that was held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 in the Kent State University Student Center Ballroom. The honors instructor was elated to be recognized by her students, as members of the Honors College were encouraged to nominate a deserving faculty member for the award earlier in the spring 2024 semester. “I feel extremely honored to be awarded this because I know that means that maybe I made an impact in some student's lives,” she remarked.
The 2024 Distinguished Honors Faculty Award recognizes LoMonaco-Benzing for her impact on students, and she encourages them to “Continue to be curious. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions.”
The Distinguished Honors Faculty Award began in 1992 and recognizes excellence in honors teaching based on advising of independent work, years of service and a record of strong teaching performance. View the complete list of previous recipients on the Honors College website.
A live stream of the entire 38th Annual Senior Honors luncheon, including LoMonaco-Benzing’s acceptance speech, was recorded at the Honors College event.
For more information about the Honors College, please visit the Honors College website.
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Media Contact: Stephanie Moskal, smoskal@kent.edu, 330-672-2312
PHOTO 1: Rachel LoMonaco-Benzing, Ph.D. teaching in a classroom of students
PHOTO 2: Distinguished Honors faculty award recipient Rachel LoMonaco-Benzing poses for a head and shoulders portrait.
PHOTO 3: Rachel LoMonaco-Benzing posed with a group of students from NRFSA on stage at an NRFSA meeting