LeeAnn Winkler, RDH, FADHA, BSDH
LeeAnn Winkler- Dedicated Delegate + Foundation Steward
My Journey In Dental Hygiene
LeeAnn Winkler, RDH, FADHA, BSDH of Mesquite, Texas is a current Foundation Liaison Committee member, a Foundation Legacy League member, a member of the ADHA Dental Coding Committee, and ADHA delegate from Texas DHA, the Dallas DHA Foundation Chair, HyPac Chair and a Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association Delegate. She was an Inaugural Fellow of the American Dental Hygienists Association.
LeeAnn graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Baylor College of Dentistry’s, Caruth School of Dental Hygiene program in 1982.
LeeAnn currently works as a clinician in a private practice in Plano, Texas. She has worked clinically in general practice with some time in periodontal practice for over 43 years.
LeeAnn has held many positions within the Texas DHA and the Dallas DHA, including President on both levels and as the TDHA IOH Liaison from 2014-2021 when she served as the District IX Director and has been the Dallas DHA Foundation Chair for many years. She has many years’ experience serving as a delegate and alternate delegate from District IX (Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas). During her time as delegate, she served Delegation Chair, Student Delegate Liaison, and Delegation Co-Chair. She also had the opportunity as a delegate to serve as the IOH Liaison Annual Conference Volunteer Recruiter & Coordinator, to serve on Reference Committee A, to Chair the ADHA House of Delegates Minutes Review Committee, and to serve on the Self Accreditation Feasibility Focus group. She has served ADHA as a member of the Council of Member Services and during her time as District IX Director served on the Minutes Review Committee, the Finance Committee, and the ADHA Board Governance Manual Committee. LeeAnn was very honored to receive the 2020 Liz Chaney IOH Liaison of the Year Award, The Texas DHA Jan Smith Memorial Award for being the top donor to the Foundation and chosen to the Unleashing Your Potential Class of 2012.
Being a member of ADHA has opened several opportunities for LeeAnn. She has testified before the Texas Senate Health & Human Services Committee, helped draft letters, and presented testimony to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, & served on the AdHoc Committee for TDHA to develop the content for and search for an Executive Director/Assn. Management Company. She was the first Dental Hygiene Consultant to Geistlich Pharmaceuticals, worked part time for Kenes, a global conference group, as a Program & Sponsorship Sales Representative, worked part time for Hayden.
Outside of dentistry LeeAnn has served on Mesquites Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association. She was honored to be awarded the Texas Citizen’s Police Academy Volunteer of the Year f for securing a $25,000 grant. LeeAnn and her husband Terry were the 2008-2009 Presidents of the University of North Texas Parent Association. She has volunteered with the Oral Cancer Foundation planning fundraiser walks in Dallas, at Feed my Starving Children, took part many in the Children’s Hospital Red Balloon Run/Walk and served in many positions in the PTA and the Mesquite High School Boosters Club.
LeeAnn and her husband Terry have one daughter Shannon. Shannon and her husband Mark have blessed them with a granddaughter Emma and grandson Luke who are the loves of their lives. LeeAnn enjoys reading, crafting, exercising, and spending time with family. She is one of 7 children (the only girl) and has a large extended family.
Personal Statement About the Foundation
The ADHA Foundation is important to me not just for the scholarship money that we raise for students at various levels of their education and the research grants but especially for the community service grants. My local component the Dallas DHA has been the recipient of a community service grant many times for their Mark Twain Elementary School fluoride varnish program. This is an at-risk school where many of the children do not receive regular dental care. Over the years that the program ran they were able to see a reduction in the amount of decay the children had. We have the ability to affect lives by what we do with the money we raise for the foundation.
Explore more stories in our Foundation Faces series below…
Hali Householder, BSPH, LDH, COM®, FADHA
Hali Householder – Myofunctional Maven + Service Liaison
My Journey In Dental Hygiene
I have loved practicing Dental Hygiene since 2012! Prior to earning my degree in Dental Hygiene from Savannah, GA, I received my Dental Assisting Degree in 2009 from Orange Coast College in southern California. In 2014, I earned my bachelor’s degree in public health sciences from Indiana University. My passion for dentistry has taken me to Belize, Central America with Project Smile, an international dental volunteer organization. I have also observed dentistry in Istanbul, Turkey. While my focus in dentistry has always been Dental Hygiene, I have worked as an Expanded Duties Dental Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant, and Front Office Personnel. After years of practicing traditional dental hygiene and witnessing the profound impact it has on oral health, I dove deeper into the realm of orofacial function and embarked on a journey to become an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist. In 2023, I opened Indy Myo. In 2026, I became an IAOM Board Certified Orofacial Myologist ™. I am honored to serve as the Indiana State Liaison, and a Liaison Committee Representative for the ADHA Foundation. I am also honored to be part of Hygienist Inspired, by ADHA in partnership with the Foundations of Delta Dental designed to address workforce shortages, improve access to care, and diversify the profession!
I currently live in Greenwood with my husband, our two daughters, and our Newfypoo Sully! When I am not focusing on the evolving world of dentistry, I enjoy traveling to the beach, going to the lake, spending time with friends and family, and attending community events. I practice dental hygiene and orofacial myofunctional therapy in Indianapolis with the goal of providing the absolute best care to my patients (Go Hoosiers!). Each year, my passion for dentistry has taken me further into my career field. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Impact of the Foundation
I have seen first hand how limited dental care impacts the public. Doing my part with the ADHA Foundation Helps to raise funds to bring dental care to those who need it most. Supporting other hygienists who want to further their professional development, research and innovate the future of our profession, and participate in community service is important to me. I believe that funding should not hold anyone back from their full potential. This profession has given so much to me. Being part of the foundation community is how I can give back to the profession!
Marjean Stamm – Trusted Tooth Fairy + Access Innovator
My Journey In Dental Hygiene
Marjean Stamm, RDH, BS, PHRDH, FADHA, is a native of Omaha, Nebraska, with nearly 29 years of experience as a dental hygienist. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry and has dedicated her career to advancing public health and improving access to oral healthcare.
As a Public Health Dental Hygienist, Marjean is deeply passionate about serving underserved populations and making a meaningful impact in her community. In 2022, she founded Trusted Tooth Fairy, LLC, an innovative public health initiative that partners with Head Start programs and other underserved organizations. Through interactive oral health education and mobile dental services—delivered in a whimsical tooth fairy costume—Trusted Tooth Fairy creates engaging, accessible, and impactful experiences for children and adults alike.
Marjean served as the 2024–2025 President of the Nebraska Dental Hygienists’ Association (NDHA) and is currently the Immediate Past President. She has been a member of the NDHA House of Delegates since 2023 and is a co-founder of the annual Fun Run for Oral Cancer, established in 2023. Trusted Tooth Fairy has been recognized with the Mars Wrigley Foundation Healthier Smiles Grant for both the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 cycles.
In recognition of her service, Marjean received the NDHA Community Service for Dental Hygienists Award in 2014. She is also a strong advocate for mentorship and has been actively involved in supporting dental hygiene students through the Career Catalyst mentoring program.
Over the past 20 years, Marjean has held numerous leadership roles within her profession and community. She continues to practice part-time at Homan Family Dentistry, an office she values greatly, while remaining committed to public health advocacy, leadership, and service.
Impact of the Foundation
The ADHA Foundation has had a profound impact on me—both personally and professionally. I am incredibly grateful and honored to be a recipient of the Mars Wrigley Foundation’s Healthier Smiles Grant. This generous support has allowed me to elevate my LLC, Trusted Tooth Fairy, to an entirely new level.
Through ADHA’s commitment to understanding and supporting the work I do, they have helped amplify the reach and impact of my program, which serves underserved children and adults. Because of this support, Trusted Tooth Fairy is now able to make a significantly greater difference in the communities we serve.
Grant funding has enabled me to purchase mobile dental equipment that would otherwise have been unattainable, as well as dental supplies to distribute to children and adults at the many outreach events I attend. As a result, I have reached hundreds of Head Start children and numerous adults and children through African Immigrant Family Services—individuals who often did not receive or seek dental care in their home countries. Through this program, they are becoming acclimated to preventive dental care practices and recognizing the importance of early detection and oral health education.
I am also able to provide hundreds of fluoride varnish applications to children, with the goal of reducing tooth decay—an effort that is especially critical now, as Medicaid has reduced reimbursement to only two fluoride treatments per year. Trusted Tooth Fairy is particularly active in February during National Children’s Dental Health Month, an exciting time when the Tooth Fairy makes many visits to educate children, provide preventive services, and distribute dental supplies.
Additionally, the grant allowed me to purchase a large, whimsical Tooth Fairy costume, which has become a highlight at community festivals and outreach events. The children’s excitement is truly magical, and it has proven to be a powerful tool for raising awareness about the importance of dental care.
I am deeply thankful for the generous grant support over the past two years, which has allowed my program to grow, remain sustainable, and continue serving communities despite ongoing Medicaid changes. My mission remains the same: to make a difference—one child and one smile at a time.
Thank you, ADHA, for all that you do to support the dental hygiene profession and the communities we serve.
Laura Green, RDH, MEd, FADHA
Laura Green – Educational Leader + Legacy Builder
My Journey In Dental Hygiene
Laura I. M. Green has dedicated over three decades to dentistry. She began her career as a dental assistant in 1989, serving in that role until 2002 when she pursued her dental hygiene education at Weber State University, graduating in 2004. Currently serving as Director of Dental Hygiene at Utah College of Dental Hygiene in Orem, UT. Laura brings 22 years of experience as a dental hygienist to her educational leadership role. She also holds a Master’s degree in Instructional Design from Western Governors University.
Her commitment to professional advocacy extends beyond the classroom through her service on the American Dental Hygienists’ Association Board of Directors, a position she’s held for 1.5 years following her leadership with the Utah Dental Hygienists’ Association. When she’s not shaping the next generation of dental hygienists or advancing the profession nationally, she treasures time with her husband, her two adult daughters, sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. Laura also enjoys cooking, hiking, and watching sporting events.
Impact of the Foundation
The ADHA Foundation has had a significant impact on both my professional journey and the students I serve. I’ve been fortunate to participate in Foundation-supported grants that have advanced my work in dental hygiene, and I’ve seen firsthand how Foundation scholarships change lives for my students at Utah College of Dental Hygiene. These scholarships do more than ease financial burden—they create genuine opportunities for talented individuals to enter our profession.
My commitment to the Foundation is also deeply personal. I maintain a monthly donation in memory of a close friend and dental hygiene colleague who has passed away. Supporting the Foundation in her name allows me to honor her legacy while continuing the work we both believed in: creating pathways for the next generation of dental hygienists.
The Foundation represents the best of what our profession can be—supporting research, education, and the people who will carry dental hygiene forward. I give because I’ve experienced its impact and because I believe in investing in our collective future.
Kayla Golden, RDH
Kayla Golden – Fundraising Powerhouse + Service Champion
My Journey In Dental Hygiene
Howdy! My name is Kayla Golden. I’m originally from the Houston area and now proudly call East Texas home. I earned my Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from Tyler Junior College in 2005 and have been a passionate dental hygienist and active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association ever since. In 2018, I completed my Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. I’ve been fortunate to spend my 20 year career with the same general practice, Love Cosmetic & General Dentistry, in Marshall, Texas. I have a genuine love for the dental hygiene profession and strongly believe in giving back through service and leadership. Since 2018, I have proudly served on the board for Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association as East Texas Trustee, where I enjoy networking, supporting professional growth, and helping strengthen the voice of dental hygiene across the state. In 2021, I expanded my involvement when I was appointed ADHA Foundation Texas Liaison. Since then, my love for the Foundation has grown every year. It is so much fun to watch my peers show up and show out for the Foundation at our Annual Conference! They jump right in- buying raffle tickets, voting for their favorite school video, playing the silly (and competitive!) game of Head or Tails, and supporting our Lynch Creek Farm fundraiser every fall. I couldn’t be more proud to represent Texas, because our fundraiser success is 100% because of THEM! I have enjoyed participating in service projects such as: volunteering at the Chicago Food bank and filling hygiene kits in New Orleans. In Long Beach I had the opportunity to partner with Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures to teach proper oral hygiene to students at a local school & participate in a beach clean-up. When I’m not in the operatory, you can usually find me spending time with my family or reading a good book in a hammock.
Why I Support the ADHA Foundation
Supporting the Foundation allows me to pour back into the profession that has given me so much—and that means more to me than words can express. Through education, scholarships, and grants the Foundation opens doors and creates opportunities that truly change lives. Being able to support something that invests in our profession and the people behind it is deeply meaningful to me. I’m proud to stand behind the ADHA Foundation and the future it helps build for dental hygienists everywhere.
Richard Robinson, RDH
Richard Robinson – Community Champion + Entrepreneur Extraordinaire
My Journey Into Dental Hygiene
I’m Richard Robinson, RDH a dental hygienist at Arkansas Family Dental in Little Rock and a community health advocate committed to prevention, education, and equity. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Health Professions in 2022. Growing up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas shaped my belief that oral health is deeply connected to confidence, opportunity, and overall wellness and that access to preventive care should never be determined by circumstance.
Alongside clinical care, I stay actively involved in community outreach and community health, providing prevention focused education and mentorship across the lifespan from school-aged youth to working adults in underserved areas. I’m grateful to collaborate with partners who share this mission, including Arkansas Family Dental, Delta Dental of Arkansas, the Delta Dental Foundation, and the ADHA Foundation. Together, these relationships help strengthen prevention efforts, expand access, and elevate pathways into the dental hygiene profession.
My journey is also rooted in representation and legacy. As the second African American male to graduate from UAMS Dental Hygiene, I’m committed to widening the pipeline for those coming behind me. After graduation, I founded MY WHY, a nonprofit focused on improving oral health through education and community engagement, and established The Richard Robinson Scholarship through UAMS to support dental hygiene students facing financial barriers. For me, this work is more than a career it’s a responsibility to open doors and build healthier communities.
My Passion for creating MY WHY
I created MY WHY because I’ve seen firsthand how gaps in education, access, and resources can shape health outcomes for entire families. I believe oral health is a gateway to overall wellness, confidence, and opportunity and no one’s ability to live a healthy life should depend on their ZIP code. MY WHY exists to improve oral health in underserved communities through education and community engagement, meeting people where they are with practical tools, consistent support, and dignity.
My passion is rooted in showing up for the community delivering oral health education, prevention-focused outreach, and mentorship for children, adolescents, and adults. I’m especially committed to building pathways into dental hygiene because representation and access to opportunity matter. When people can see themselves in healthcare, they begin to imagine new possibilities for their future and that’s where lasting change starts.
Partnership has been essential to turning this mission into action. I’m grateful for the support of Arkansas Family Dental, Delta Dental of Arkansas, the Delta Dental Foundation, and the ADHA Foundation. Through the Delta Dental Foundation’s Hygienist Inspired initiative expanding access to care by empowering hygienists to recruit future talent through personal stories, I’m honored to serve as an Arkansas ambassador. With support from the ADHA Foundation, including the Mars Wrigley Grant, we helped launch MY WHY University, focused on inspiring the next generation of dental hygiene professionals through hands-on workshops and early career exposure. My purpose is simple: expand access, open doors, and strengthen communities one conversation, one student, and one smile at a time.
