Benton Coblentz

Originally from Tukwila, Washington, Benton graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Washington in Seattle. During his undergraduate years, Benton focused his studies on the transition from communism and studied abroad in Georgia, Romania, and Russia. After graduation, he worked in local economic development, first for the City of Tukwila and then for the City of Issaquah, where he assisted in the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was an active contributor to his community, sitting on the boards of several local community organizations, including as board chair of the Tukwila Pantry, the local food bank in his community. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Benton went to work for the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, where he facilitated the Center’s work on Ukraine and the wider Eurasia region and actively contributed to the Atlantic Council’s UkraineAlert and New Atlanticist blogs. His plan after graduation from Princeton SPIA is to continue his work on U.S. policy toward Eurasia and in support of Ukraine.