Alex Benson ’26

Alex Benson blends advocacy, identity, and public service in her leadership at Widener Law Commonwealth

When Alex Benson packed up her life in Iowa and later Nashville, Tennessee, to move to the Northeast, she wasn’t just looking for a law school. She was looking for a place where she and her wife could feel at home. She found that at Widener University Commonwealth Law School, where she’s now a third-year student, a leader in multiple campus organizations, and someone who has built her law school experience on service and community.

Benson grew up in Anamosa, a rural farming town in eastern Iowa. Her interest in law took root while she was earning a master’s degree in public health and working with the HIV community in Nashville. The work opened her eyes to the role legal advocacy plays in expanding access to care and addressing systemic inequities. Those lessons, paired with a desire to live in a place where she and her wife felt comfortable being their full selves, led her to Widener Law Commonwealth.

“I realized how much impact legal advocacy could have, especially for communities that are often overlooked,” she said. “Widener felt like the kind of community where I could grow personally and professionally.”

That sense of belonging helped guide Benson into student leadership. She joined OUTLaw as a first-year student after meeting then-president Reese Rosso ’24 at table day, quickly finding mentorship, friendship and a sense of home. When she saw the organization struggling with participation last year, she stepped forward.

“OUTLaw has always been about inclusion and visibility,” she said. “I wanted to make sure it stayed a strong, welcoming space for everyone.”

Her leadership helped spark new momentum. OUTLaw rolled out a new logo and shirt order, brought back well attended events, and hosted a panel of LGBTQIA+ attorneys to encourage conversation about the intersection of identity and the law. Drag bingo, one of the year’s most popular events, drew a crowd that Benson still talks about with a smile.

“We’ve become more visible on campus, and that visibility matters,” she said. “Especially in today’s political climate.”

Her work with the Law & Government Student Society, or LGSS, grew out of her academic path. After committing to the administrative and constitutional law certificate in her first year, she connected with students and faculty involved in LGSS. She joined the board as treasurer during her second year. By spring, she found herself being asked to consider running for president.

“I didn’t know much about LGSS at first, but I quickly saw how valuable it was,” Benson said. “It connects students to public service in real, tangible ways.”

This year, the group experienced what Benson calls a “revival.” Rechartering required gathering 50 student signatures, which turned into a way to reintroduce the society. LGSS launched a mentorship program, expanded conversations about the certificate offerings, and hosted alumni to show how the program translates to careers in public service. Working closely with Professor Rob Teplitz, the group has seen new interest from students across divisions.

For Benson, serving as president of both groups offers a balance of the personal and the professional. OUTLaw draws on her identity and the experiences she and her wife had living in the Midwest and South. LGSS taps into her public health background, her work with the Office of General Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General, and her long-standing commitment to public service.

“At first the two roles felt completely separate, but the longer I’ve done this, the more I’ve realized how connected they are,” she said. “My path to public service grew out of advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ and HIV communities.”

Her favorite moments this year have been the ones that take her back to her first year of law school. She remembers watching new students walk into Table Day, spot the pride flag, and head straight toward the OUTLaw table with relieved smiles. She also remembers the curiosity students showed when approaching LGSS, eager to learn what the group offered.

“You could see people finding their place,” she said. “Those are the moments that make the work worth it.”
Benson’s leadership has also reshaped how she thinks about service. She never expected to lead even one student organization, let alone two. But advice she heard in high school stuck with her: a good leader listens before stepping in.

“With OUTLaw, I heard students asking for visibility and support, so I stepped up,” she said. “With LGSS, I heard silence, and that silence told me there was work to do.”

After graduation, Benson hopes to return to her roots in public health. She plans to pursue a career in health law, with a focus on expanding equity and access in healthcare. She hopes to serve the LGBTQIA+ community through policy and advocacy, drawing on the lessons she’s learned at Widener Law Commonwealth.

Looking back on her time on campus, she hopes she’s helped open doors for those who come after her.

“For OUTLaw, I hope future students keep finding that moment where they see the pride flag and know they belong,” she said. “For LGSS, I hope the conversations we’ve started about public service keep growing.”

And for herself, she hopes to keep building on what both communities gave her: purpose, visibility and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead.

Interview was conducted in Winter 2025.