Benjamin Kaplan was a well-known sociology professor at SLI/USL (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette). He received his B.A. and M.A. from Tulane University, 1928-1929. Upon graduating from Tulane, he was employed by the Louisiana Department of Public Welfare as supervisor and parish director, 1930-1940. He joined the Southwestern Louisiana Institute faculty in 1940 as instructor in Sociology. During WW II he was a deputy director of personnel in charge of training for Southeastern area with the Red Cross. He received a Ph.D. in Sociology from Louisiana State University in 1952. Kaplan became the Frank A. Godchaux Honors Professor of Sociology in 1966.

Kaplan wrote several books: "The Eternal Stranger", "The Jew and His Family", and also contributed the chapter "Jews and Social Equality" in the book "Meet the American Jew". He also wrote and spoke on many topics including youth, aging, education, organizations, and Judaism. He was affiliated with the Red Cross, Civic Club, the Boys & Girls Scout program, Rotary Club, etc.