Ben Shaevitz (b. 1960) was born in Columbus and grew up in nearby Chillicothe, Ohio. He earned a bachelor's degree in Applied Science from Purdue University, and his PhD in Experimental Physics from Penn State in 1989. Shaevitz was hired that summer as a professor in the Physics Department at Slippery Rock University, where he worked for 33 years.
During his time at SRU, Shaevitz held several leadership positions, including as chair of the Physics Department and president of the faculty union, APSCUF [Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties]. Shaevitz was a Slippery Rock delegate to APSCUF’s Legislative Assembly and served on state APSCUF’s Executive Committee.