Sally M. Benson

Sally M. Benson joined Stanford University in 2007 where she is a professor of energy resources engineering in the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, Co-Director of the Precourt Institute for Energy and Director of the Global Climate and Energy Project. Benson is responsible for fostering cross-campus collaborations on energy and guiding the growth and development of a diverse research portfolio. Formerly, Benson was at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where she held a variety of key positions, including Deputy Director, Associate Director for Energy Sciences and Director of the Earth Sciences Division. Benson is regarded as an authority on carbon capture and storage. She also uses energy systems analysis to help guide decisions about the most promising pathways for clean energy development.

Benson received a BA in geology from Barnard College and a MS and PhD in materials science and mineral engineering from U.C. Berkeley.