Ann Beth Benningfield, former professor in the marriage and family therapy program at Virginia Tech, passed away on June 1. She was 86 years old.
A native of Vernon, Texas, Dr. Benningfield began her undergraduate education at what is now the University of North Texas and completed her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Maryland. Following teaching stints at McMichael Elementary School in Philadelphia and Strickland Junior High School in Denton, Texas, Dr. Benningfield earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology and served as a private practice therapist in Austin, Texas.
From 2001 to 2010, Dr. Benningfield taught in Virginia Tech’s doctoral program in marriage and family therapy. She was also a member of the Office of Recovery and Support, where she provided support to the families of the 32 people killed during the Virginia Tech 2007 campus shootings, as well as the 27 survivors.
A leader in the broader field of counseling, Dr. Benningfield was an active member and two-time president of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Additionally, she helped lead the legislative fight in Texas for marriage and family therapy licensure, which led to Governor George W. Bush appointing her to the Texas State Licensing Board. She worked with other leaders in her field to continue implementing those same standards in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as three Canadian provinces.