The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced the 10 individuals selected for induction into the 2027 SIAC Hall of Fame Class during the 2026 SIAC Football Media Day presented by Georgia Power at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon, Georgia. This year’s inductees include Benedict College President Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis and former Benedict two-sport standout Charles “CB” Benson.
“It’s with great enthusiasm that we welcome the 2027 SIAC Hall of Fame Class,” said SIAC Commissioner Anthony Holloman, Ed.D.” These individuals have distinguished themselves and left an indelible legacy of achievement in our conference.”
The 2027 SIAC Hall of Fame Induction will be added to the lineup of events surrounding the 2027 SIAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Dr. Artis is a visionary leader, strategic thinker, and champion for educational equity. She made history on June 30, 2017, when she was unanimously appointed the 14th-and first woman-President of Benedict College. Prior to this role, she served as the first woman President of Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
With a deep commitment to the transformation of institutions that serve underrepresented students, Dr. Artis has earned national recognition for her dynamic leadership. She was named “Female HBCU President of the Year” (2018) and “President of the Year” (2020) by HBCU Digest and Higher Ed Dive, respectively. Under her leadership, Benedict College was named HBCU of the Year and received the American Council on Education’s Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Dr. Artis has lectured and published extensively on equity in education and the complexities of leading minority-serving institutions. She is the founding Co-Chair of the HBCU Annual Sustainability Summit and has received more than 300 awards for her leadership. She is particularly passionate about mentoring, developing and supporting aspiring women leaders at all levels. Dr. Artis is a member of the International Women’s Forum (Carolinas Forum) and is the co-editor of The HBCU Sisterhood: Testimonies of Triumph and Transformation, released Spring 2026, which has already garnered significant attention for its potential to shape conversations across the HBCU sector and higher education writ large.
A passionate advocate for intercollegiate athletics, Dr. Artis has served as a member of the NCAA Management Council for Division II and currently serves as Chair of the President’s Council for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC). She was inducted into the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.
Dr. Artis holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University, a Juris Doctor from West Virginia University College of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from sister-HBCU, West Virginia State University. She also earned a Certificate in Fundraising Management from Indiana University and a Certificate of Mastery in Prior Learning Assessment from DePaul University.
Charles Benson was a prolific performer in football and baseball for the Benedict Tigers from 1960 to 1963. On the gridiron, “C.B.” was an offensive threat each time he handled the football from the single-wing halfback position. During his junior year, he ran for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, becoming the first Benedict running back to eclipse the thousand-yard mark in a single season. His biggest game was in 1962 against arch-rival Allen University, when he scored three TD’s – each on runs of over 50 yards.
In his first game, Benson scored on a 55-yard touchdown on his first reception. In another game, he scored a touchdown on an 85-yard run with just 15 seconds left to help lift the Tigers to a victory over Morris Brown.
As a member of the Benedict baseball team, Benson was a sensation at shortstop. He batted over .400 each season, leading the team in batting average and stolen bases, and was signed by the Chicago Cubs. He advanced through the minor leagues and played with two Triple-A teams — initially in the Cubs’ organization at Tacoma, Washington, and later with the Minnesota Twins at Denver, Colorado.
He was inducted into the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989, and is the only player in Benedict history to have his jersey retired in two sports.
2027 SIAC HALL OF FAME CLASS
Selina Kohn, Albany State University – Women’s Basketball
Charles Benson, Benedict College – Baseball and Football
Dominique Worthen, LeMoyne-Owen College – Men’s Golf
James Bullard, Morehouse College – Football*
Fred Lane, Lane College – Football*
Roosevelt Williams, Tuskegee University – Football
Phyllis Oliver-Mattox, Savannah State University – Women’s Tennis*
Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Benedict College – Administrator
Andre Patillo, Morehouse College – Administrator
Charlie Neal – Contributor*
*Posthumous inductee.