Meet Our Chaplains

Rebecca Highfield

The Rev. Rebecca L. Highfield serves as the Director of Pastoral Care at Mary Washington Healthcare. She is a Certified Educator with the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). Prior to joining Mary Washington in early 2019, Rebecca was a congregational pastor and then a chaplain and educator at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Rebecca received her Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas and her Master of Divinity from Philips Theological Seminary. She earned her Master of Science in Patient Counseling and Master of Science in Patient Counseling-Supervisory Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She was ordained by and maintains endorsement with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Rebecca places a high premium on relationality and professional development. She enjoys working alongside students as they strive to meet their goals for personal and pastoral formation through technical skill development and deeper awareness of self.

Brittany Powell

Rev. Brittany Powell is the newest CPE educator at Mary Washington Healthcare. She is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center. She received her B.A. degree in Political Science at Spelman College. She is endorsed by the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

She pursued her CPE educational training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and completed her educational journey at Penn State Health. While in Hershey, Rev. Powell served as the resource board chair for Alder Health which is a community clinic that serves the LGBTQIA community. Rev. Powell values building relationships through establishing connections while learning to maintain them by honoring differences. She is excited to embark on her journey at Mary Washington Healthcare and is looking forward to connecting with the community through student groups and other opportunities.

Beth Riddick

The Rev. Beth Riddick serves as lead chaplain with Mary Washington Healthcare. She is a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). Prior to joining Mary Washington in 2009, Beth served in local churches in North Carolina.

Beth received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a Birth-Kindergarten teaching license from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Master of Divinity from Campbell University Divinity School in Buies Creek, NC. She was ordained by Main Street Baptist Church in Kernersville, NC in 2003 and maintains her chaplaincy endorsement from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Beth serves as chaplain throughout MWHC including staff chaplain at Stafford Hospital and at Snowden at Fredericksburg. Beth values her on-going relationships with staff and the community as she seeks to help each person find wholeness and connections with the divine during times of illness and crisis.

Connor Maenz

Connor Maenz serves as the Palliative Care Chaplain through Mary Washington Healthcare. He is seeking board certification through the Association of Profession Chaplains (APC). Prior to joining Mary Washington Healthcare in late 2023, Connor served in local churches in Virginia as well as being a Veterinarian's Assistant.

Connor received his Bachelor of Arts in Music and Religious Studies from Randolph-Macon College and his Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary. He was endorsed and maintains his endorsement through the Society of Friends of Caroline County (Quakers). Connor serves as a chaplain for our Palliative Medical Team both inpatient at Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital, as well as outpatient at our Palliative Care Clinic as well as throughout various local Skilled Nursing Facilities.

Connor highly values incorporating the beliefs and values of an individual into their plan of care when dealing with a life limiting illness, striving to bring a sense of peace into an otherwise difficult and hectic time.