Please join the Dental Programs faculty, staff, students and friends at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 6 in W-080 to celebrate SF Dental Programs Professor Becky Craig‘s retirement. It’s a bittersweet moment for Dental Programs – we’re sad to see Becky retiring from her position as a full-time dental assisting instructor for the past 12 years, but happy she is ready to enjoy the fruits of her labor!
Her “labor” began in 1994 as a nontraditional student pursuing a second career as a dental assistant in Dental Programs at Santa Fe College after years of working as an administrative assistant and bookkeeper in a variety of settings. Immediately after completing the dental assisting program in 1995, she earned her dental assisting certification through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and went to work as a dental assistant in private practice in Gainesville. While she worked in private practice, she continued her education at SF, earning an associate’s degree in 1996. She returned to SF in 2001 as an adjunct dental assisting instructor during the spring and summer semesters. In the fall semester, she accepted a position as a full-time instructor in the dental assisting program, teaching Preclinical Procedures, Expanded Functions, Dental Assisting Clinics, Dental Office Management and other courses. Concurrently, she earned a Bachelor of Science in healthcare management through Saint Leo University at SF in 2006.
One of her most noteworthy achievements over the past 12 years has been organizing and facilitating the dental assisting student table clinics with the Alachua County Dental Association, with students winning first, second and third place numerous times at the Florida Dental Assistants Association Dental Assisting Student Table Clinic Competition during the annual Florida National Dental Convention (FNDC) in Orlando. Her other activities include inventory control and facilities management in Dental Programs, serving on the original Sustainable Santa Fe committee and providing valuable input to Dental Programs and SF.
So many dental assisting and dental hygiene students have benefited from her years of business and chairside dental assisting experience and knowledge. Her legacy of Dental Programs graduates practicing in Alachua and Bradford counties, other locations in Florida and other states will continue for many years to come. Becky, thank you for a job well done!