William Bender has the King James version of resumes.

It never seems to end.

Towering at more than 43 pages, it chronicles 32 years in the field of special education, including a tenure of two decades at the University.

But amid all the accomplishments – 15 authored books, 62 peer-reviewed journal articles and 18 commercially produced videos – you won’t find one glaring trademark of his legacy – sexual harassment.

In September, Bender offered his resignation, effective in May, one day before he was found in violation of the University’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, according to investigative records obtained by The Red & Black.

Then Associate Director for Legal Affairs Kimberly Ballard-Washington warned in a letter to Bender that any further claim of harassment in violation of school policy will lead to his immediate termination.

He is now teaching two online special education graduate courses.

None of this shocks Rosemary Jackson, a former instructor in the College of Education and now a professor of special education and administration at Georgia College and State University.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” she said. “He was a creepy man.”

Her portrait stands as a stark contrast to the description that graces Bender’s books.

As a student member of the committee that hired Bender, Jackson recalls problems with him before he even began teaching in 1988.

She said one female student alleged Bender made her sit in his lap during an unofficial school conference.

“It was common knowledge in the department that (Bender) made inappropriate passes at students,” Jackson said.

Such passes were documented as recently as last summer.

With his wife, Renet Bender, William operates The Teacher’s Workshop, a center in Watkinsville that offers aid in teacher development.

Bender provides a how-to of sorts for instructors in most of his books, offering teaching strategies in the field of special education.

When asked how she felt about teachers being instructed by Bender, Jackson said, “He’s just horrible. He has no professionalism. He claims to be some kind of guru but all he does is take other people’s work and get published.”

Multiple attempts for comment from Bender, his family and colleagues within the College of Education were refused or unsuccessful.

In 1991, an unidentified student said Bender treated her harshly after she turned down an offer to move into his house.

The woman was married when Bender extended the offer.

Of Bender, she writes, “You have to deal with him carefully” and “his need for power – if you challenge that, you have a confrontation.”

Bender obtained 29 grants or contracts that amounted to approximately $1.5 million for his work. According to his resume, he also secured an additional $350,000 for University income accounts through these grants.

Prior to offering his resignation, Bender asked to be granted the retirement plan for faculty members with 25 years of service to the University or the package for those with 10 years of service who retire after the age of 60.

He has been at the University for almost 20 years and was 54 at the time of his resignation.

His request was refused.

According to the state database on www.georgia.gov, Bender’s salary was $69,322 in 2005, $71,005 in 2006 and $66,503 in 2007.

Bender’s work isn’t limited to special education.

He wrote separate books on ghost sightings and haunted houses in Georgia, as well as works examining the state’s Blue Ridge Mountains.

Jackson is not among the impressed.

“The guy has the perfect resume,” she said. “But his ego can’t hide behind it anymore.”