Dustin Benac

Dr. Dustin D. Benac serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Philanthropy and Organizational Studies and the Director and co-founder of the Program for the Future Church. As an educator, scholar, and organizational strategist, Dr. Benac works at the intersection of philanthropy, practical theology, and organizational studies to explore the conditions that allow individuals and communities to respond to uncertainty amid shifting organizational environments. His teaching, writing, speaking, and service works to pilot a new interdisciplinary field at these intersections and foster the organizational environments for faith-based organizations to adapt to a shifting organizational landscape.

Dustin is the author or editor of three books and more than four dozen articles and essays. His books include Adaptive Church: Collaboration and Community in a Changing World, Pathways to Belonging, and Crisis and Care: Meditations on Faith and Philanthropy. He is currently working on two additional books that provide theological and practical responses to contemporary questions of belonging and loneliness. Since coming to Baylor in 2020, Dustin has secured more than $3,000,000 in grants and external funding to advance research and programs at Baylor. He currently serves as the PI for the $1 million “Future Church Project” grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., and the Co-PI for the $1.76 million “Tapestry of Care” Project from the John Templeton Foundation. 

Dustin earned is BA from Whitworth University and received his MDiv and ThD Duke University. He is married to Casey Benac, a licensed professional counselor who has thirteen years of experience working with adults and adolescents within private practice, non-profit organizations and other counseling environments. They have three children, Cade, Ellie, and Ames. Outside of his work and service at Baylor, Dustin enjoys running, fly fishing, coaching youth soccer, reading, writing, and exploring wilderness areas.