I am a registered dental hygienist with more than fourteen years of clinical experience and a strong foundation in evidence‑based practice, supported by a BS in Dental Hygiene and ongoing completion of my MS in Dental Hygiene. My career has evolved from full‑time clinical practice to include curriculum design, student teaching, and professional advocacy, all shaped by a deep interest in the scientific mechanisms that underpin oral health and disease. I am particularly drawn to the biological, anatomical, and physiological principles that inform prevention, risk assessment, and clinical decision‑making.

My long‑term goals include contributing to research that strengthens the scientific evidence base of dental hygiene and advancing public health initiatives that improve access and equity in oral healthcare. In the short term, I am focused on deepening my research experience, expanding my grant‑writing skills, and engaging in community‑based projects that translate foundational science into meaningful public‑health outcomes. Through continued scholarship, teaching, and public health involvement, I aim to support a more research‑driven, prevention‑focused future for the profession.