A native of Normandy, Mr. Ben holds master degrees in education from universities in Germany (Freie Universitat Berlin) and France (Universite Picardie Jules Verne Amiens). When not teaching, he spends time gardening, reading and doing Aikido (martial art). He is an Orthodox Christian and arrived in Fargo in 2016 with his wife and son. He became an American citizen in 2022.