It is with distinct pleasure that we feature Dr. Marcus Andrew Benniefield as the profiled faculty member of the month. Dr. Benniefield has been involved with CIBU for many years now – as a student in the doctoral program and as an employee who has been Director of Student Affairs, Assistant to the President, and, most recently, Director of Compliance and Institutional Development who ensures that we all understand – and comply with – all aspects of compliance with both local, state and federal government mandates, governing bodies and accrediting agencies. By this time he knows the in’s and out’s of the university about as well as anyone in the institution.
Dr. Benniefield was born in San Diego California, the last of three siblings. During high school he developed an interest in finance and marketing, and, in particular, reflecting the ideas of Michael and George Belch. He continued to pursue this interest during his undergraduate years at San Diego State University. After receiving his B.S. degree, Dr. Benniefield decided to continue studying Business Administration at the University of Phoenix. Here, he had the opportunity to study under important professorsincluding Nancy (Nan) MacIsaac, Antonio Vianna, and Richard Brydges.
Dr. Benniefield was influenced by his professors to continue studying business. As a result, he continued his studies at California International Business University, where he earned the D.B.A. degree. He chose to apply statistics to the analysis of the California and Arizona homeowner insurance industry’s strategies in response to climate change as the topic for his dissertation. Dr. Thomas Matula, a faculty member at CIBU who was one of Dr. Benniefield’s thesis advisors, encouraged him to pursue this topic, noting the impact of climate change. While researching the then current understanding of climate change risk for insurers, which at the time consisted of models by Matthew Paterson, Dr. Benniefield realized that the theory lacked an analysis of the impact of risk. This insight led to the development of his theory of climate risk diversification under uncertainty.
With Dr. Matula’s help, Dr. Benniefield started to research climate change risk to insurers, developing a model for the identification of climate change risk and relying on what was later named the Climate Change Response Assessment. Later he received his D.B.A. from CIBU with a thesis on the climate risk diversification theory. The topic was so controversial that while he was defending his dissertation one of his advisors jokingly argued that there is no convincing evidence of climate change. He went on to publish his work on climate risk diversification and will use the foundation to write a book on the subject.
Dr. Benniefield teaches Finance and Economics at CIBU while also serving as one of the administrators who has played an integral role in the ongoing welfare of the institution. He also has taught outside of America, completing an exchange of visits with Taiwanese professors. In the future, too, we expect that he will represent CIBU as a faculty member in different countries around the world.
Everyone who has been acquainted with CIBU for some time knows Dr. Benniefield and deeply appreciates his commitment to the university and his willingness to do whatever is asked of him. To be sure, he has left a profound imprint on CIBU over the years with his dedication and loyalty to CIBU, its faculty, alumni, students and community. We might even suggest that his very name is appropriate – “Mark His Benefit!” – to CIBU and to all CIBU affiliates.
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