Karl Benedict receives prestigious Martha Maiden Lifetime Achievement Award

Karl Benedict, former director of Research Data Services and Information Technology Services, has been honored with the 2025 Martha Maiden Lifetime Achievement Award for Service to the Earth Science Information Community, announced the College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences (CULLS) recently.

This prestigious award recognizes Benedict's exceptional contributions to the Earth Science data community and his dedication to advancing the accessibility, preservation, and integration of scientific data.

Benedict's career spans nearly four decades, marked by interdisciplinary achievements as a field archaeologist, data manager, research scientist, geospatial application developer, and applied research center director. Most recently, his leadership at the University Libraries shaped innovative programs supporting researchers in data discovery, integration, analysis, sharing, and preservation.

"The College's support was instrumental in my continued engagement with the Earth Science data community and the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) in particular-work that certainly contributed to this award. I'm incredibly honored to receive this recognition," said Benedict, reflecting on the award.

In his prior role as the director of RDS, he worked with his team to support effective research data management by researchers at UNM through instruction, training, consultation, and infrastructure support. As director of ITS, he managed a team of skilled staff that developed and supported all of the IT capabilities for the College, including multiple public-facing online resources, collaboration tools, critical systems and network infrastructure, and all public-facing staff, and faculty desktop and laptop computers.

Benedict retired from CULLS in July 2024 but, currently serves as an emeritus professor within the Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences (OILS) academic program. He received his master's and doctorate in Anthropology at the University of New Mexico.