In memoriam: Anna Beth Benningfield, retired professor, member of the Office of Recovery and Support
Anna Beth Benningfield, retired professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, died June 1 in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 86.
Benningfield worked at Virginia Tech from 2001-10. She was a leading figure in the field of marriage and family therapy, the doctoral program in which she taught, and was a member of the Office of Recovery and Support, which was deeply involved in the efforts following the April 16 tragedy to support the families of the 32 victims and the 27 survivors.
In addition to serving as clinical training director for the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, she also was a frequent consultant to the then provost, Mark McNamee, on a wide range of university issues.
In her profession, Benningfield was one of only three people twice elected president of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and served on a wide range of association committees and governance units. Gov. George Bush appointed her to the Texas State Licensing Board after she helped lead the legislative fight for Texas marriage and family therapy licensure, a cause she continued to fight for in every state and province that lacked it. Along with countless others, those efforts paid off in 2009, when all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and three Canadian provinces had marriage and family therapy regulation.
She served on several editorial boards and gave dozens of workshops and presentations around the United States and Canada. She was frequently interviewed and quoted in the popular press, including radio, print, and television.
She also was a forceful voice for diversity in the profession and the university, giving workshops on ethnicity and advocating for support for minority scholars and clinicians. She was a role model and mentor for many women therapists. Her service was recognized by both the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, which gave her its Lifetime Achievement award, and the larger American Association, which gave her its award for Outstanding Contributions to the field.
Toward the end of her life, she struggled with health issues but remained actively involved in her retirement community in Dallas. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to know and work with her.
She is survived by her husband, Scott Johnson, a former Virginia Tech faculty member and director of the university’s Family Therapy Center.
Her family obituary and memorial service information can be found online.
Members of the university community who seek support or assistance are encouraged to contact these resources:
- TimelyCare
- Cook Counseling Center at 540-231-6557
- Dean of Students Office at 540-231-3787. Referral to a campus cleric may be made through this office.
- Employee Assistance Program
- Anthem at 855-223-9277
- Aetna at 888-238-6232
- Kaiser Permanente at 866-517-7042
- Sentara Health Plans Vantage HMO at 800-899-8174
- Hokie Wellness at 540-231-2233 (students) or 540-231-8878 (employees)
- Housing Services at 540-231-6205
- Residential Well-being at 540-231-1139
- Civil Rights Compliance at 540-231-2010
- CARES Program at 540-231-7806
- University Ombuds Office at 540-231-3125
- Graduate Office of the Ombudsperson at 540-231-9573
