Benji Buffington rejoined ULM Athletics as the Director of Athletic Business Operations in February 2024. He has been at ULM since January 2015 where he has worked with the ULM Foundation, Athletics and the Budget Office.
In March 2022, Benji transitioned to the University’s budget office as the Assistant Director of Budget and Financial Analysis. His role was coordinated with university administration, human resources and payroll on the personnel budget. In October 2022, Benji was named the University’s Budget Officer where he oversaw the University’s overall budget process for the operating, auxiliary and restricted funds.
Benji came to ULM in January 2015, where he first served as the ULM Foundation’s Senior Accountant. He oversaw and directed the back office business and accounting operations of the ULM Alumni Association and ULM Athletic Foundation. In May 2017, he was named Director of Athletic Business Operations where he was able to bridge the gap between the Athletic Department's and University’s policies and procedures and help the Athletic department walk through the travel and other issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also represented the President’s Division on the University Staff Senate from 2020-2022.
In 2013, Benji began working as a local auditor. He assisted with audits of the City of West Monroe, City of Monroe’s Marshall’s Office, City of Ruston, Northeast Louisiana Food Bank and various other small governments and non-profits.
Prior to ULM, Buffington was employed for 13 years at CenturyLink (now Lumen) at the corporate headquarters in Monroe, LA, working his way up from a student worker to Senior Accounting. His department, Plant Accounting, handled expenses related to construction, engineer work order and contracts, damages to company poles and fiber, and depreciation. He was a vital part during the acquisitions of Embarq/Sprint and Qwest in training new plant accountants and engineers company-wide with new software systems, policies and procedures.
Benji was recognized as Monroe Chamber of Commerce Top 40 under 40 nominee in 2020. He served as Board President of the First West Thrift Store, an affiliate of First Baptist Church West Monroe (First West), from 2018 to 2022 where revenue grew from $500,000 to over $1 million a year. Revenue from the store are funneled back into Northeast Louisiana to see that no one misses the grace of God. He currently serves at First West as a pianist for the worship team, men’s ministry retreats and other various areas.
Benji graduated with his bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in accounting in August 2002. He received his master’s in public administration in December 2021.
Living in the Monroe area his entire life, he has been a life-long fan and supporter of the Warhawks. His mother, Martha Buffington, received her Bachelor’s in education in May 1991 from ULM, and his aunt, Peggy Buffington, was served as faculty and received her doctorate posthumously in 2018.
Benji and his wife, Hannah (ULM ’06), reside in West Monroe with their two children Harrison and Olivia.
