Julian Rocha/The Hofstra Chronicle
College is often a place where people fall in love. Perhaps two lab partners have chemistry together in more ways than one, or that person next in line at Starbucks might be a total catch. However, this is not limited to students, as professors also fall for each other. Dr. J. Bret Bennington, chair of the department of geology, environment, and sustainability, and Gail Bennington, an adjunct professor in the same department, are prime examples of this.
A Hofstra graduate with degrees in geology and science education, Gail Bennington began working as a high school earth science teacher shortly after finishing school. One of her former professors invited her and two of her students to go on a field trip with the Hofstra geology department. “When I got on the bus,” Gail Bennington said, “I sat next to Bret and I had never met him before. We started chatting, and we got along great.”
As the two became intertwined in their professional lives, they hit it off in their personal lives as well. Gail Bennington brought J. Bret Bennington into one of her high school classes to speak to her students, and their love blossomed from there.
A year later, they became engaged. The following year, they celebrated their wedding, and they have been together ever since.
The Benningtons agree that being so close with each other, both professionally and personally, has been very beneficial. “At any extracurricular field trips, hikes, whatever I do with our students,” J. Bret Bennington said, “Gail comes along, and she’s obviously an asset because she knows a lot about the outdoors and geology. And the students benefit from having both of us participating in things.”
Gail Bennington echoed her husband’s sentiments, stating, “I think it’s good to be role models too because they see us as a married couple of professors, both dealing with the same topics and sharing the love of geology together. I think that students appreciate it.”
Teaching in the same department means that the Benningtons often see similar familiar faces around campus, with students often learning from them both. With more of an emphasis on training future science teachers, Gail Bennington noted that many of the student teachers in her classes over the years have been some of her husband’s former students. Additionally, she noted that she and her husband make an effort to attend each other’s presentations, serving as cheerleaders of sorts.
Working as professors in the geology, environment and sustainability department allows the Benningtons to be actively involved in ensuring that Hofstra becomes more environmentally conscious. Within the past few years, discussions surrounding protecting and healing the planet have become a priority of GenZ and millennials, many of whom are current and former students of theirs.
Eager to help in the fight for climate justice, the Benningtons practice what they preach in their daily lives, and they encourage their students and colleagues to do the same.
“There are lots of things that individuals can do to combat [climate] change,” J. Bret Bennington said, “such as burn less fossil fuel by driving less. And when it comes time and you can afford to buy a car, buy a hybrid or an electric car.”
When they don’t need to use their car to get around, the Benningtons are avid bikers. “We ride our bikes to campus when we can, when the weather is permitting,” Gail Bennington said. “It’s not bad. It’s five miles each way.”
She also mentioned how people can be sustainable shoppers, in addition to being environmentally conscious travelers. “My own children like to go to thrift shops,” she said. “Go buy second-hand clothes. I just try to make people aware of what they can do, and what alternatives they have.”
Brought together by enthusiasm toward similar things, the Benningtons enjoy being able to share these interests with each other in a truly special way. “When Bret and I first met,” Gail Bennington said, “I was an earth science teacher. I was constantly picking his brain for things. Now, we love to go fossil collecting, kayaking and hiking, and we both share the love of nature and plants.”
In J. Bret Bennington’s words, “If you’re a geologist you like to look at and talk about rocks, and people who aren’t geologists don’t understand that. It’s just very nice to have somebody who enjoys the nerdy things that I enjoy.”
Gail Bennington remarked that working in tandem with her husband is good for their personal relationship as well. “We’re very lucky as a couple,” she said, “because I don’t think we’ve ever had a fight. We’ve disagreed a few times, but we get along and we have a passion for the same goals. We have the same hobbies, and we want to make a better world for our children when they’re older. Some people can’t stand being in the same room with each other, especially after COVID, but we enjoy it.”
