Working

Bernice Mills, RDH, MS

When Bernice Mills, RDH, MS, was choosing her career path, she had narrowed her choices to education and dental hygiene. Years later, she would find a way to choose both.

Immediately following high school, however, she chose dental hygiene and, after graduating from Westbrook College (now the University of New England) with an associate degree in 1976, spent several years in clinical practice and public health.

Eventually, education re-entered the picture. “I happened to be driving by [my alma mater] and decided to drop in and see what I would need to do to start a career in teaching,” said Mills. She applied for a position as a clinical instructor and started working with the dental hygiene program in the fall of 1990.

Mills’ first position at the University of New England was as a clinical instructor working in the clinic. While in that position, Mills acquired her master’s degree, which allowed her to move into classroom teaching. “I then became an assistant professor on the clinical track and was able to teach both didactically and clinically,” she explained.

A few years later, the dental hygiene program director was planning her sabbatical leave and asked Mills if she would be interested in serving as interim director while she was away. Shortly after that director returned, another opportunity within the university became available for her, and Mills was appointed program director.

“As the dental hygiene program director, my responsibilities include both teaching as well as the administration of the program and our on-site dental hygiene clinic,” said Mills. “I am fortunate to work with a great faculty and supportive administration, as well as wonderful students.”

In addition to her teaching load, which includes teaching community health and clinical dental hygiene to sophomores, she also teaches a citizenship course to third- and fourth-year dental hygiene students.

“Citizenship is a core theme for all undergraduate students pursuing their bachelor degree,” Mills said. “The course serves as an opportunity for reflection on the individual’s role and responsibilities within their community, state, country, etc. The course also has a service learning piece, which provides the students with the opportunity to participate in community projects, which will hopefully lead to the continuation of community involvement.” The citizenship course also gives students the opportunity to communicate and work with students outside of their discipline, Mills added.

Her administrative duties include oversight of curriculum development and evaluation, as well as working with the admissions department on recruitment of new students. “I also meet with students on a daily basis and assist them in any way that I can,” she said. “I work with students regarding their course schedules, I give them assistance with questions about their future plans regarding dental hygiene opportunities or continuing their education. Many times, students will drop by with questions and/or guidance. My goal is to provide an environment that fosters learning, collaboration, communication and collegiality.”

Among her proudest moments are two awards she received, both as a result of a nomination by students. The first was in 1999, when she was awarded the Mary Rines Thompson Award in Teaching Excellence; then, in 2007, she was presented with the Student Government Association’s Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award.

Mills is grateful for the rewards that have come with her career. “I have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful people through our dental hygiene program. The faculty, staff and university administrators that I have worked with are dedicated and passionate about our program and the impact that it has on the students and the community as a whole. We have a public dental hygiene clinic on our campus that serves about 5,000 patients each academic year. In addition, our dental hygiene students go out into the community to provide dental health education and screenings to area school children.

“It is a wonderful experience to watch our students receive their dental hygiene pins at their pinning ceremony, and then again when they receive their diplomas. I have met some wonderful students who have worked so hard to complete their education and move forward with their lives. The amount of maturity and growth that the students experience over the short time that they are with us is amazing.”

In addition to preparing students to enter the dental hygiene workforce, as part of its baccalaureate program, New England University offers fourth-year students the opportunity to serve as clinical mentors and develop clinical teaching skills. “This experience helps our students to experience teaching, and many have expressed an interest in continuing to teach after they graduate,” Mills said.

This edition of “Working” was prepared by Meghan Washington.