Ben Olson

Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling 

bolson@corban.edu

  • B.S. in Psychology – Corban University  
  • M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – George Fox University 

Professor Olson served in the Marines from 2007-2011, where he saw combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning the rank of sergeant before his honorable discharge. Later, he worked with low-income families in community mental health clinics before moving on to treat military veterans with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) for 5 years. He worked in VA clinics in Salem, OR and Cheyenne, WY, treating the effects of combat PTSD, sexual trauma, and holding couples therapy sessions. His work focused on creating positive community for returned warriors to reduce isolation and depression issues by enhancing their sense of connectedness with fellow veterans, fostering a milieu of belonging and understanding. He currently maintains a private practice in Salem. 

Ben is big into hiking, camping, paddleboarding, trail-running, rock-climbing, creative writing, and is a serious Star Wars nerd. He has also published a dystopian book series about the role of community in healing the psychospiritual wounds of war in returning warriors. 

“Corban has always had a special place in the world of education, beginning with its location, literally a beacon of light set against a wooded hillside…a little candle in a broken world. Corban has a unique culture and welcoming atmosphere, small classrooms, personal connection with professors, and a dedication to Jesus’ mission of healing and redeeming this world back to himself. I’ve been in the field of counseling for nearly a decade now and done some good work, but it’s important to pass the torch of learned knowledge/experience on to future generations of aspiring counselors and therapists. Corban’s uniquely Christian values made it a good fit for me to transition into teaching.” 

NWCCU ACCREDITATION

Corban University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and completed a Year-Seven Comprehensive (Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (EIE)) in 2022 for continued accreditation. The comprehensive self-study was followed by an onsite evaluation in October 2022. In February 2023, Corban received reaffirmation of its accreditation for 7 years. Corban University’s last Mid-Cycle Evaluation was fall 2018, and its Policies, Regulations and Financial Review (PRFR) was completed in fall 2021. As of our most recent evaluation, Corban University is compliant with the Standards, Policies, and Eligibility Requirements of the NWCCU.