Benedict came to the Bulletin from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, where she directed the international peace and security program from 1992 to 2005. She also established and directed the foundation's initiative in the former Soviet Union from 1992 to 2002. Before joining the foundation in 1987, she taught at Rutgers University (1980-1981) and at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign (1981-1985). Benedict received her A.B. from Oberlin College and a PhD in political science from Stanford University.
Her media appearances include interviews on ABC's 20/20, CNN, CNN International, BBC, CBC, NPR, CTV, Voice of America, Fox News Channel, Agence Presse-France, and Al Jazeera. She has been quoted in USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Village Voice, Los Angeles Times, and Congressional Quarterly, among others. She appears regularly on radio news and talk shows in the United States, Britain, and Australia.