Faculty

There is no substitute for experience and when it comes to a hands-on career such as Dental Hygiene, it is especially important. That's one reason why all of the faculty have extensive knowledge and are currently active in the profession. They offer private practice experiences in periodontics, pedodontics, prosthodontics, geriatrics, and orthodontics. They also offer public health experience in state and community health agencies, gerontology, public schools, and international dental hygiene.

The Fones faculty have the professional and teaching abilities to guide students through each part of the program. Your education will benefit from this carefully selected group of instructors, all of whom remain current with the ever-changing standards and practices in the dental hygiene profession.

The faculty members are also affiliated with international, national, state and local professional organizations. They are active in lecturing to dental hygienists and other health professionals at conferences and continuing education courses. The faculty actively participate in course development, research, grant writing, curriculum design, and student organizations.

Meg Zayan, RDH, MPH, EdD—Dr. Meg Zayan has been with the University for seventeen years and is currently the Dean and Associate Professor of the Fones School of Dental Hygiene, previously holding the positions of Director and Coordinator of Public Health Services. Her professional background includes numerous public health positions with the Colorado Migrant Health Department, the U.S. State Department in Niamey, Niger, and in private practice. She is a clinical examiner with the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners, a Site Accreditation Curriculum Consultant with the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a National Dental Hygiene Test Construction Committee Member, and a chapter contributor for three dental hygiene textbooks—Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Dental Hygiene, 6th edition, by Michele L. Darby, Dental Public Health: Contemporary Practice for the Dental Hygienist, 2nd edition, by Christine N. Nathe, and Clinical Aspects of Dental Materials, 1st and 2nd editions, by M. Gladwin and M. Bagdy.

She received her Certificate in Dental Hygiene from the University of Pennsylvania, B.S. degree in Dental Hygiene Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a Master's Degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Bridgeport. Prior to coming to the University of Bridgeport, Dr. Zayan taught dental hygiene at Luzerne County Community College and Northampton County Area Community College, in Pennsylvania. She comes to Fones School with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in Expanded Functions, Dental Materials, Clinical Dental Hygiene, Dental Public Health, and International Dental Hygiene.

At the University of Bridgeport, Dr. Zayan serves on the Institutional Review Board, University Senate, Fones Academic Standards Committee, Fones School Curriculum Committee, University Disciplinary Committee, University Personnel Review Committee, Provost Council, NEASC Task Force Committee, and Faculty Council. She is a presenter for the Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene National Board Review and Refresher Course.

Dr. Zayan's professional affiliations include the Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene Honorary Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society, International Federation of Dental Hygiene, American Dental Hygienists' Association, Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association, and local component associations, where she has held numerous positions. She is currently President of the Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association for 2007-2008. She is often invited to speak to professional dental hygiene groups throughout the country and overseas in areas such as gerontology, dental public health, and expanded functions.

Marcia Lorentzen, RDH, MSEd — Ms. Lorentzen is Director of Clinical Services at the Fones School and began her teaching career as a part-time clinical instructor and dental materials laboratory instructor shortly after graduation from the University in 1975. She continued her career exploration in private practice locations in Connecticut and returned to Fones School in 1995 as the Community Rotation Coordinator. Marcia has been a full-time faculty member since 2000 and currently teaches Periodontology and Contemporary Dental Hygiene Practice and oversees the outreach rotation at Norwalk Hospital. Her academic achievement brought her election into Gamma Chapter of Sigma Phi Alpha, the dental hygiene honor society, and her selection as a Dana Scholar in 1975. She is currently enrolled in the University educational leadership doctoral program.

Marcia has served the University of Bridgeport in numerous capacities, including as University Senate Secretary and as a member of the Faculty Handbook Committee and the Fones Academic Standards Committee. She is a member of the Academic Technology Steering Committee, the Safety Committee, and serves as Building Manager. She is a presenter for the Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene National Board Review and for UB's School of Education Assessment Committee on linking standards, competencies, and student performance.

Marcia's professional affiliations include the American Dental Hygienists' Association, Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association, and local component associations, to which she has belonged since graduation from the University. She has been active in numerous positions on all levels of the Association representing the interests of dental hygienists, serving as President of CDHA 1994-1995 and recently completing her position as Chair of the CDHA Council of Administration. As an educator, she is the Connecticut State Education Network Liaison for ADHA, and a Site Accreditation Curriculum Consultant with the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Wendy M Garcia, RDH, MSEd — After twenty-seven years in private practice and the completion of her B.S. degree, Ms. Garcia began her teaching career at the University as a part-time clinical instructor in Radiology and Second Year Clinic. Her responsibilities then increased to include teaching Head, Neck and Dental Anatomy, Pharmacology, Dental Public Health and Dental Hygiene Internship, all of which she currently teaches. She joined the full-time faculty in 2003 as Community Rotation Coordinator and was recently appointed to supervise the B.S. degree completion online program. She was elected into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society and was included on the National Dean's List in Spring 2002. She completed her MS degree in 2004 and is currently enrolled in the educational leadership doctoral program at the University.

At the University of Bridgeport, Wendy serves on the Faculty Welfare Committee, Faculty Council and the Fones Academic Standards Committee. Most recently, Wendy joins other Fones School faculty members in being one of the first dental hygienists certified to administer local anesthesia in the State of Connecticut.

Ms. Garcia's professional affiliations include the American Dental Educators Association, International Federation of Dental Hygienists, American Academy of Dental Hygiene, American Dental Hygienists' Association, Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association, and local component associations. She has been active in numerous positions in the Association and is a Past President of CDHA 2003-2004.

Laura Greco, RDH, MSEd - Laura has been a faculty member at the Fones School since 1991 and serves as Senior Clinic Coordinator in addition to teaching Clinical Practice III and IV and Advanced Clinical Concepts on campus and online. Past positions include clinical instruction in freshman clinic; clinical manager and dental radiology instructor.

Laura's University activities include representation on the Faculty Council, University Senate, University Planning Review Board and Academic Standards Committees. Professional affiliatoins include membership of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association and the Bridgeport Dental Hygienists' Association. Laura remains active as Advisor to the Student American Dental Hygiene Association and with continuing education engagements, specializing in faculty calibration, professional responsibility and ethics, and patient care management. Laura is a consultant to Professional Learning Services and has co-developed a national continuing education presentation for dental professionals. Most recently, with the addition of local anesthesia to the Dental Hygiene Practic Act for the State of Connecticut, Laura developed and coordinates the Fones School of Dental Hygiene Local Anesthesia course. This course is designed for both registered dental hygienists and Fones students.

In addition to a teaching career, Laura has many years of dental hygiene private practice experience in New York State, as well as Connecticut.

Karen Sue Williams, RDH, MS — Ms. Williams holds a Master's Degree in Human Nutrition and is a Fones School graduate. She began her dental hygiene career working in various private practices in Connecticut, specializing in restorative and cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics and pedodontics. She was also responsible for developing and implementing oral hygiene in-services for day-care centers and local preschools. She returned to Fones School in 1998 to teach Radiology and Second Year Clinic, joining the University in 2003 as a full-time faculty member. She currently serves as First Year Clinic Coordinator and teaches Introduction to Dental Hygiene, Dental Hygiene Practice I and II, Radiology, and Instructional Strategies for the Health Professional. Most recently, Karen joins other Fones School faculty members in being one of the first dental hygienists certified to administer local anesthesia in the State of Connecticut.

Ms. Williams serves on the University Senate as Secretary of the Executive Committee, on the Fones Academic Standards Committee, and the University Disciplinary Committee. Her professional affiliations include the American Dental Hygienists' Association, Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association, and local component associations. 

Katherine Russell, RDH, MS - Katherine recently joined the full time faculty and brings to the Fones School with a wealth of clinical experience and knowledge.  She is a Fones graduate, received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Connecticut and a Master's of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport.  She began her teaching career in 2003 as a clinical instructor in the first and second year clinic. Currently, her responsibilities include Clinical Care, Dental Materials, Radiology, and Dental Research.

Katherine serves on the University Academic Standards Committee, Internal Review Board and is the Library Liaison for the Fones School. Her professional affiliations include the American Dental Hygienists' Association, Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association, Council on Administration, and local component associations.  Katherine's future goals include the infusion of evidence-based decision making into the Fones curriculum and teaching in the Master's of Dental Hygiene Degree program.

Sandra Stramoski, RDH, BS - Sandra received her AS degree from the Fones School of Dental Hygiene in 1975, practicing dental hygiene for many years across the country before returning to the University to complete her BS degree.  Sandra began her teaching at the Fones School as an adjunct professor and recently joined the faculty as a full time clincal assistant professor, teaching in both freshman and senior clinics. Recently introducing magnification into the program, her areas of specialty include ergonomics and research. Academic honors include graduating Magna Cum Laude, recipient of the Capstone Writing Prize, and President's List recipient.

Sandra is active in the American Dental Hygienists' Association and the Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association, serving as Membership and Continuing Education Chair, and Secretary of the CDHA Board of Trustees 2007-2008.

Leigh-Lynn Vitukinas, RDH, BS - Leigh-Lynn is a Fones School graduate and began her career in dental hygiene education in 2003.  She holds a B.S. degree in psychology from the University of Bridgeport and is currently enrolled in the Master's of Dental Hygiene program. Ms. Vitukinas joined the Fones School faculty team in 2007 and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor. In this position, she is responsible for teaching senior students in the dental hygiene clinic and dental materials laboratory.

Leigh-Lynn's past clinical experience includes dental hygiene treatment to patients in cosmetic, restorative, and periodontal dentistry. She is also a dental hygiene provider for the State of Connecticut, allowing her to work in a pediatric dental clinic and various public health settings. Ms. Vitukinas is active in the Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association where she holds the positon of President-Elect for 2007-2008 and Chair of the Council on Administration. In addition to demonstrating leadership in dental hygiene, Ms. Vitukinas is active within her town where she serves on numerous political and nonpolitical committees.

Maria Garcia Cholewinski, RDH, BS - Maria has over 25 years of dental hygiene experience working in private practice after having received degrees from the Fones School of Dental Hygiene. She joined the University as a faculty member in 2001 where she was appointed clinical instructor. Her teaching responsibilities include managing the dental hygiene clinic, instructing students at the Fones clinic and other outreach sites such as Yale New Haven Hospital Dental Clinic and Southwest Community Health Center.

Maria is in the process of completing her Master's Degree in Education and is a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, the Connecticut Dental Hygienists' Association and the New Haven Dental Hygienists' Association. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Maria is owner of a private dental office placement service.

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Dr. Morton Bort, DDS
B.A., Brooklyn College
D.D.S., New York University

Mary Moran Boudreau, RDH, MBA
A.S., B.S., M.B.A., University of Bridgeport

Shannon Bradley, RDH, BS
A.S., B.S., University of Bridgeport

Dr. John Centonze, DDS
B.A., University of Connecticut
D.D.S., Temple University

Monica Dinoto, RDH, BS
A.S., B.S., University of Bridgeport

Heather Gilmour, CDA, RDH
C.D.A., Briarwood College
A.S., University of Bridgeport

Dr. Allen Helfer, DDS
B.A., Yeshiva University
D.D.S., Columbia University
M.Sc.D., Boston University

Carmen Hufcut, RDH, BS
A.S., B.S., University of Bridgeport
A.S., Dental Assisiting, University of Puerto Rico

Olga A. C. Ibsen, RDH, BS, MS
A.A.S., State University of New York, Farmingdale
B.S., M.S., Columbia University

Mary Ann Llinas, RDH, BS
A.S., B.S., University of Bridgeport

Barbara Marquette, BS, MS
B.S., St. John's University
M.S., University of Bridgeport

Kristin Minihan-Anderson, RDH, BSDH
A.S., B.S., University of Bridgeport

Lidia Brión Silva, RDH, BS
A.S., Hostos Community College
B.S., Lehman College

Joanna Trigilidas, RDH, BS, MA
A.S., New York University
B.S., Farmingdale State University
M.A., Stony Brook State University

Dr. Perry Wasserlauf, DMD
B.A., Emory University
D.M.D., University of Maryland