Bethany Catherine Sutherland

Dr. Bethany Reeb-Sutherland, Associate Professor of Psychology in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, and affiliate in the Center for Children and Families at FIU passed in the evening of Saturday, Nov. 14 at the age of 42, after an extended journey with breast cancer.

Bethany earned her Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of New Mexico in 2006. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland, College Park’s world-renowned Department of Human Development. She joined FIU in 2012 as director of the Brain and Behavioral Development Lab. Bethany’s scientific research focused on the relations between early learning and social behaviors from infancy through childhood. Bethany published more than 45 articles on these topics in leading developmental and child clinical psychology journals; many were published with FIU doctoral students she mentored. She was Associate Editor of the journal Mind, Brain, and Education, sole editor of an upcoming special issue of Infant Behavior and Development, and the Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on numerous NIH grants totaling more than $10 million. Her students will now carry on her work of uncovering the mysteries about how social and emotional behaviors develop in children.

Bethany was a devoted mother, wife, scientist, educator, and mentor. Under her gentle exterior was a strength of will and loyalty that was unwavering. While navigating cancer treatments, she received the 2017 Early Career Impact Award from the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences for her major contributions to advancing the sciences of mind, brain, and behavior. She received the College of Arts, Sciences & Education Faculty Award for Excellence in Research. Also in 2017, Bethany received the Provost Award for Outstanding Mentorship of Graduate Students — nearly one year since her original cancer diagnosis.

In April 2019 almost 3 years to the day from her first diagnosis, she found out the cancer had spread to her liver — she had Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Bethany still continued to mentor her students. She became an advocate for cancer research as Co-Vice President of the local board of the Susan G. Komen Foundation Miami/Fort Lauderdale Affiliate. As part of Komen’s Faces of a Warrior Campaign, Bethany shared her story of strength and resilience with the hope her message would one day lead to better treatment, prevention, and support for young women.

Bethany is survived by her husband: Dr. Matthew T. Sutherland, FIU Associate Professor of Psychology, their sons: Eli (7) and Jonah (4), her mother: Connie Reeb, sisters: Jessica (Brian) Lopez, Jenalyn Reeb, Brianna (Miles, son: Leroy) Sturgeon, brother: Jacob (Adam) Reeb, and mother-in-law: Deb Sutherland.

While not all of Bethany’s extended family will be able to make it in person, she will be deeply missed by her Ohio Family: (Kayla, Zach, Ava, Aubree, Kelley, Jody, Jayden, Journey, Hudson, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins), Albuquerque family: (Debbie, Mike, Leslie, Jen, Dustin, Hayley), and Pennsylvania Aunts: (Nellie, Marge, Carolyn, Rita and their families). Memories, laughs, and karaoke jams with Bethany will be cherished by many friends she made in the places she lived across the country.

_________________Portions of Bethany’s Journey in Her Own Words____________________

https://news.fiu.edu/2017/10/young-women-breast-cancer-doesnt-care-how-old-you-are/116614

https://www.wlrn.org/show/sundial/2019-10-24/former-sheriff-scott-israel-gets-fired-breast-cancer-awareness-oolite-arts-ellies-awards

https://komenmiaftl.org/bethany-reeb-sutherland/

https://news.fiu.edu/2017/04/1-year-1-newborn-2-awards-1-cancer-diagnosis/110276

_________________________________Personal______________________________________

Bethany grew up in the idyllic hills of western Pennsylvania on a farm notable for its classic barn. A barn which would shape Bethany’s future. A barn which housed many barn cats. Chasing, catching, and loving a seemingly limitless supply of furry friends allowed Bethany to develop her cat whispering skills and earn a strong reputation among the cat community as a true friend with a huge heart. Soon cats would begin seeking her out for love and her renowned care. Don’t take my word for it, see testimonial below (“She attended to her cats with the utmost care” -Veterinary Medical Professional).

After relocating to Albuquerque, Bethany occupied her time until her next furry encounters by completing high school, an undergraduate degree at UNM in pre-med biology, working at Dion’s (great pizza), house sitting, and working in psychology labs. Foregoing a medical path, Bethany entered UNM’s psychology Ph.D. program given her fascination about stress’s impact on our thoughts and bodies. Bethany conducted some elegant science projects to understand how stress in mother rats impacts the social and cognitive development of their rat pups. Speaking to her scientific commitment, Bethany purchased the animals for her dissertation work on her personal credit card (not cheap especially for a graduate student). Her early work was published in some of the best neuroscience journals (Journal of Neuroscience, PNAS). Bethany also served as the Graduate Association of Students in Psychology (GASP) President. Notable accomplishments during her administration included establishing the annual Psychology Research Day for student presentations, bringing new (and actually functioning) computers and a copy machine (that didn’t constantly jam) to the graduate student computer lab, and the much-acclaimed establishment of a snack system (Costco purchases, leave money for what you eat) in the grad lounge. It is fair to say that Bethany worked just as hard on her projects as she did to better the situation of her fellow graduate students.

During this time Buddy the cat found Bethany after jumping out of an abandon car next to one of the houses Bethany housesat for. A short time later Bethany, when on a walk, meet the love of her life Ma….Sukoshi meowing to her from a bush. Bethany took Sukoshi Kitten home and they remained partners for the next 20 years. A short time later Bethany met the less furry love of her life Matt at a graduate student recruitment day. Soon, Matt would come to understand Bethany’s love for cats when she came home one day with Gizmo kitten in a pillow case.

Having completed her Ph.D., Bethany earned the postdoctoral position of her dreams working in a child development lab at UM, College Park. This position allowed her to translate her animal research about rat moms and pups to human moms and kids. Her scientific research thrived during this time and her accomplishments grew. Bethany also reached perhaps the peak of her cat whispering career at this time as well. First, Fiona located Bethany by jumping from the outdoor stairs onto her second story balcony. Bethany let Fiona in and Fiona never left. In Baltimore, Bethany met Bones the cat during a particularly cold winter and designed him a cat igloo (a plastic bin wrapped in fiberglass insulation inside a larger plastic bin with an entrance cut in). My response: You want me to build what? Later walking home, Bethany met Orange Guy, a beauty well-feed cat, I don’t remember what color. Relying on her whispering skills and convinced that Orange Guy was RF chipped, Bethany took him to the vet for a scan. Sure enough there was a chip that gave the name and phone number of Orange Guy’s owner. Bethany called, the owner answered. The owner had been visiting friends in Baltimore, Orange Guy got out of the house, and the owners went home broken-hearted without him. Bethany said she wanted to drive Orange Guy back to his owner the upcoming weekend because their car broke down. My response: Sure, where do they live, Towson? No, Georgia. My response: you want us to drive where? Finally, the motherload involved a trap-neuter-release program run by Baltimore City. Once a month, vets volunteered to help control the pet population. They gave you cages, you put cats in cages, they neuter, you monitor cats for a few days and then release. Bethany picked up 6 cages, 5 of which were rather easy to fill. Scarface the cat lived in an abandoned Baltimore row home and was feared by many, both cat and human. My response: you want me to put who in the cage? With long sleeves and leather gloves, we delivered 6 full cages which was document by Baltimore City as the “Sutherland Colony”.

Bethany’s years of hard work culminated in her earning her FIU faculty position. She moved from Baltimore in a pickup truck with four cats in the small backseat area and three humans in the front (the person riding shotgun also had to hold a fishbowl with a 5-year old algae-eater in it). At FIU, Bethany found joy in working with new colleagues, who became close friends, mentoring trainees from diverse backgrounds, and dreaming about grant applications. Her greatest life achievement to occur, was the arrival and raising of her two beautiful boys. Eli and Jonah brought Bethany so much joy that I can’t even describe, and they benefited from Bethany’s immense love. Relying on technology, as we all have the last several months, Bethany used a pet finder app to locate Eli his own kitten (Free) and Jonah his kitten (Everest) in April. Although we never spoke about it, my feeling was this was Bethany’s way of leaving the boys a piece of her that stays when she has to go and sharing a lesson of kindness, caring, and compassion.

What’s the point of all that? Bethany is the most selfless, generous, caring person I know. And, she forced me to be a better person. All the things she did for cats, she did orders of magnitude more for her kids. Her infectious laugh, cuddling skills, cat whispering, and warm heart are irreplaceable. We love you buddy, lovebug, momma cat, Barbibethy, Bethany.

_______________________________In Lieu of Flowers________________________________

While Bethany loved flowers, she loved finding ways to help people in need even more. For example, she established a “student hardship fund” to help students in need during graduate school through FIU’s gifting program called Ignite.

In lieu of flowers, and if inclined, please consider making a donation to the FIU Ignite campaign account to be established in Bethany’s name to honor her passion for helping students in need. Instructions can be found below.

1) https://ignite.fiu.edu/give-now/giving-opportunities/schools-and-colleges/college-of-arts-science-and-education/psychology-graduate-student-hardship-fund/index.html

2) For FIU faculty:

a. Complete form on the link above

b. Under “tribute gift”, CHECK the box “This gift is in honor, memory or support of someone.

c. Select “This gift is: In memory of”

d. Enter: Bethany Reeb-Sutherland in the box

3) For non-FIU faculty

a. Under “How to give” (under the picture on the page), click “Pay Directly with Credit Card”

b. Under “tribute gift”, CHECK the box “This gift is in honor, memory or support of someone.

c. Select “This gift is: In memory of”

d. Enter: Bethany Reeb-Sutherland in the box

4) Entering Bethany’s name under tribute gift will ensure that the funds go to the right place.

5) Thank you!