Michael R. Benz, Ph.D., areas of teaching and research focus on secondary education and transition practices and postschool services and outcomes. Prior to coming to the University of Oregon, he was a high school special education and social studies teacher. He also has taught in alternative education settings, working with at-risk youth, high school dropouts, and older students returning to school to complete their education. For the past 12 years he has codirected Oregon's Youth Transition Program, a nationally recognized school-to-community transition model that has been implemented in more than 175 high schools throughout Oregon. In 1999, Michael received the Oliver P. Kostoe award from the Division on Career Development and Transition, Council for Exceptional Children, for outstanding national contribution to the advancement of career development and transition.