Meet Some of Our Dental Hygiene Graduate Students

Grace Kogi Grace was born and raised in Kenya. In 2001, she came to the United States to pursue her career goal of becoming a dental hygienist. Soon after earning her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree at Old Dominion University in May 2006, she worked as a dental hygienist providing quality oral healthcare to underserved children in the Tidewater area. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters Degree in Dental Hygiene degree with a specialization in education.  She plans a career  in higher education.

Nakia Howard Nakia Howard was born in Killeen, Texas; but has lived in Louisiana, Michigan, Kuwait, and now Yorktown, Virginia.   In May 2007, she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University, and promptly earned a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) to start her graduate studies. As a GTA, she has the opportunity to assist in teaching oral radiology labs for the junior class of dental hygiene students.  She works as a part-time clinical hygienist in a private dental practice in Virginia Beach. Her favorite quote is, "If you cannot run, then walk.  If you cannot walk, then crawl.  But by all means, keep moving." Ms Howard is a highly committed, motivated, tenacious individual who never gives up!  With a master's degree in dental hygiene and specialization in education as her goal, Ms. Howard intends to secure a University-based faculty position.

Musarrat Anjum Shah Anjum, as she prefers to be called, was born and raised in Swat-Pakistan, and moved to the United States at age 16 with her family seeking a better life and an education. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from Clayton State University in May 2007 and is currently a full-time student specializing in education.  Anjum is a graduate teaching assistant in Dental Hygiene. After the completion of her Master's degree, she plans to return to her native country to share her knowledge of dental hygiene and start a formal dental hygiene program there. Anjum is married and has a four-year old son.

Meg Lemaster Meg Lemaster is a native of the Tidewater area and a 1992 graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree Program at Old Dominion University. She currently works as a private practice dental hygienist and is a valued part-time clinical faculty member at Old Dominion University. Her career goal is to be a full-time faculty member in a university-based dental hygiene program. She is married and has one teenage daughter.

Kathleen A. Rosano Kathleen A. Rosano received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University in May 2006, and immediately started working on her Masters Degree in Dental Hygiene with a specialization in education. Kathy plans to combine her studies with part-time private dental hygiene practice. She is a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association and actively volunteers her expertise to improve access to dental hygiene care for persons without dental insurance. Her professional goal is to earn a faculty position at a university to mentor future dental hygienists and to influence the direction of dental hygiene education and research.  Kathy is married with one daughter and resides in Norfolk, Virginia. Her inspirational quote that guides her life philosophy is "Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

Kelly M. Schulz Kelly M. Schulz received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University in May 2004 and is currently working on her Masters Degree in Dental Hygiene with a specialization in education. Her research area is in the design and testing of devices used in dental hygiene client care. Kelly works 20-28 hours a week as a part-time private practicehygienist and is a member of the Tidewater Dental Hygienists' Association, the Virginia Dental Hygienists' association and the American Dental Hygienists' Association. Her professional goal is to earn a faculty position at a university to educate and mentor future dental hygienists. She hopes to return to Colorado where she is originally from. Her personal activities include running and all types of physical fitness. Kelly is married with two sons and resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Joyce Downs As a former graduate of ODU, Joyce has applied her education and seasoned experience as a dental hygienist to several clinical settings including general and periodontal practices. Licensed in three states, she has over 10 years of experience in the advancement of her profession including past president of Student American Dental Hygienists' Association, the president of Austin District Dental Hygienists Association, member of Texas state governmental affairs committee, and Texas state American Dental Hygienists' Association delegate. Her greatest achievement includes national recognition from ADHA and Colgate as a recipient of the Colgate Community Outreach Award, 2000. Her record of community service includes numerous volunteer efforts implementing sealant programs, health fairs, and public speaking to focus groups such as Parkinson's disease support groups, diabetes support groups, and nursing home caregivers. As a graduate teaching assistant, she hopes to contribute her experience to future dental hygienists and gain knowledge through research and advanced education. She enjoys outdoor recreation including fishing and boating. Her hobbies include cooking, darkroom photography, and playing the saxophone and clarinet.

Betsi K. Moore-Keasler Betsi K. Moore-Keasler was born in Aquadilla, Puerto Rico. She attended North Harris County College, Houston Texas where she earned a certificate in dental assisting, and Old Dominion University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene. Since graduation in 1993, she has worked as a private practice dental hygienist and as a contract dental hygienist with the US Navy. From 2003-05, she served full time as an instructor and clinical coordinator with the Dental Hygiene Program at Middle Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins, Georgia. Her goal is to expand her teaching and management skills and career options in dental hygiene education.

Damien Etonyeaku-Nduka Damien Etonyeaku-Ndukawas born and raised in Nigeria,  entered the Nigerian Navy Medical Staff Training School 1983, qualified as a professional medical assistant in 1985, and graduated from the School of Medical Sciences Apapa Lagos in 1990 specializing in Dental Therapy (Dental Hygiene). He served as a dental hygienist in Nigerian Navy Hospital Lagos, Military Hospital Yaba Lagos, Nigerian Army School of Medical Sciences ojo Lagos, University Teaching Hospital Calabar Cross River- Dental Center, and the Nigerian Navy Eastern Naval Command Dental Center Calabar as head of Dental Hygiene/Preventive Dentistry Department. His professional experience includes dental public health in rural areas and shores while in the Nigerian Navy, time at the Universitäts klinikum der RWTH Aachen Germany, and private practice in dental hygiene clinics in Germany. He has over 16 years experience in the advancement of oral health in Nigeria, England and Germany, and is a member of the  International Federation of Dental Hygienists, Nigerian Dental Therapist Association  the Dental Therapist Board of Nigeria (RDTh) and the Deutscher Dental Hygienikerverband  in  Germany. His numerous awards include the Merit Award for Services to Humanity 1991, the Nigerian Navy Silver Jubilee Medal in 1993, and honorary awards for services to the less privileged through the Living Water Foundation Worldwide Inc. which he is the Founder. He is also an ordained minister. Married with children, he is a full time student in the Master of Science, concentration in Dental Hygiene Degree Program.

Lorraine Fuller Lorraine Fuller was born and raised in San Diego, California. In 1981, she earned a bachelor of science in dental hygiene degree from Idaho State University. Ms. Fuller has 25 years of clinical experience including the administration of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide analgesia. She practiced in California, Idaho, and Louisiana with a variety of settings. Her goal is to have a faculty position teaching in an advanced dental hygiene practitioner program and to improve access to quality dental hygiene care for dentally underserved populations. Her research interest is in the area of oral health outcomes associated with fluoride varnish use in toddlers and young children.

Arwa Mahasneh Arwa Mahasneh, Jordanian born, graduated from Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) with a Bachelor's Degree in Allied Dental Sciences, a degree which integrates dental assisting and dental hygiene. After graduating in June 2003, she worked at JUST as a full-time instructor and dental hygienist from February 2004 to November 2006. JUST now supports Ms. Mahasneh on a full scholarship to so that she can earn the Master Degree in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University. Ms. Mahasneh's goal is to use her Old Dominion University degree and experience to advance the dental hygiene profession in Jordan, the JUST program, and to help establish the Jordanian Dental Hygienists' Association.

Tara Newcomb Ms. Newcomb is a 2002 graduate of Old Dominion University's School of Dental Hygiene. After several years in private practice, Ms. Newcomb retuned to pursue a Master of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene, with special interest in International Community Health. She interned with the locally-based non-government organization (NGO), Physicians for Peace, an organization dedicated to training medical personnel to build international friendships. Working also with the Norfolk Rotary Club, Ms. Newcomb is writing a children's book on Malaria that will be used in Africa to teach children about prevention of the disease. As part of her teaching assistantship, Ms. Newcomb is pleased to serve as a valued faculty member teaching both junior and senior dental hygiene students. Her most recent rewarding experience was the birth of her son, Baylen. Ms. Newcomb's career goal is to bring the expertise of dental hygienists to developing countries through her work with an NGO committed to improving health globally.