Del Mar College’s Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Patricia Benavides-Dominguez, 62, passed away suddenly in the early evening hours of Oct. 5. Her passing took her friends, family and community by surprise.
“Her legacy will continue to be felt for generations through the many lives she changed and the opportunities she helped create,” said Dean of Student Engagement and Retention Rita Hernandez in a written statement. “I am profoundly grateful for her impact on our community and for the generosity of her family in sharing her with us.”
Benavides-Dominguez worked for Del Mar for more than 20 years in various roles, including Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Outreach and Enrollment Services, and Director of Early College Programs.
After graduating from W.B. Ray High school she earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She then went on to earn a Master of Science in Counseling from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and her doctorate in Educational Leadership, also from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Benavides-Dominguez was born in Corpus Christi on June 22, 1964. She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Ernesto; her daughter and best friend, Laura (Eric) Pena; children: Candice (Kelby) Santos, Michelle (Michael) Alejos, Ernest Anthony, Jr., Joseph (Selina) Dominguez, Eli (Lorena) Dominguez; grandchildren: Jolynn, Austin, Arabella, Lille, E.J., Nevaeh, Elijah, Eliana, Ivan, Zeke, Rhys, Rylan, Camila; great granddaughter, Isabella; siblings Ted (Aretha) and Irene (David); and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents Manuel and Maria Benavides.
In addition to her work at Del Mar, she devoted time to outside boards and her church. She was a member of the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors, Tuloso-Midway ISD Education Foundation, and the Corpus Christi ISD Education Foundation. Benavides-Dominguez was a graduate of the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Leadership Corpus Christi LVX Program (Class 45) and the National Community College Hispanic Council Leadership Fellows Program (Class of 2018). She was a member of the Guadalupanas, a Mexican American Catholic Women’s organization at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church.
Donations in memory of Dr. Patricia Benavides-Dominguez may be made to the Del Mar College Foundation at give.delmar.edu/pbd or sent to DMC Foundation, 101 Baldwin Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78404.
