Alabama state Sen. Kim Benefield has been selected for the Toll Fellowship Program, which recognizes 40 emerging state leaders from across the country.

The Council of State Governments sponsors the program. The council says each year’s participants attend a weeklong seminar aimed at developing the next generation of leaders in state government.

Benefield is a Democrat from Woodland who is serving her first term in the state Senate. She previously served as circuit clerk in Randolph County for 18 years.