Meet The Board

Tonia Tolbert-Moore Baillargeon MBA, MHA, BSDH, RDH, ICP

President

Tonia is a Veteran of the Gulf War Era and Peacetime. She graduated President of her 2002 senior dental hygiene class with a dental hygiene degree from Old Dominion University with continuing course work from The Ohio State University. She received her Master’s in Business Administration and Master’s in Healthcare Administration from University of Phoenix. She continues to be actively involved in leadership and advocacy as President of the National Dental Hygienists’ Association and is Treasure of The Greater Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Society. Tonia practices part-time as an oral health practitioner in private practice in Columbus, Ohio, and in the corporate world as a Health and Well-being Coach/Consultant, with foundation certification from Duke University and training through WellCoaches School of Coaching. Tonia is Founder of Well-being I Am, LLC, facilitating an evidence-based forum on health. She is on a mission to bring awareness to whole health promotion through integration and is passionate about ensuring vulnerable communities have access to quality dental health care and health education while taking a stand on the advancement and autonomy of the dental hygiene profession.

LaVerna J. Wilson, RDH

**Treasurer**
Community College of Philadelphia, 1989
25 years of experience
“I chose dental hygiene to educate and provide dental hygiene to underserved patients.”

Barbara Seldon, RDH, M.Ed

**Secretary/HOD Representative**
Graduate Dental hygiene 1968, University of Detroit
Bachelors of science Dental hygiene University of Detroit 1970
Masters of science degree at University of Detroit 1972
PhD candidate Wayne State University 1987
“Dental hygiene is my chosen professional career. I have wanted to be a part of the dental since my early childhood. I have invested 52 years in my dental hygiene career. I joined NDHA to protect my investment. NDHA helps to keep me up to date on issues concerning dentistry and dental hygiene. I have been a member of NDHA since 1970.”

Dr. Tracye A. Moore, RDH, MS
**Trustee - Newsletter and Cont. Ed**

Dr. Tracye A. Moore, RDH, MS, 35+ year dental hygiene career began in Philadelphia, PA, and runs the gamut from working at hospitals to private practice, as a clinical instructor for two different colleges, conducting research for the University of Pittsburgh, and being employed by the United States Navy. She received an Associate of Science Degree from Temple University, a Bachelor of Science Degree from West Chester University, a Master of Science Degree from St. Joseph’s University, and a Doctorate of Education from Wilmington University. Her post-graduate education includes a graduate certificate in Ethnic Studies from Northern Arizona University (NAU) and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion certification from Cornell University.
Dr. Moore was a faculty member of NAU for 11 years and was Chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene for 6 years. She was the lead faculty accompanying dental hygiene students’ summer externship travel to Peru, Guatemala, and Morocco to conduct preventive oral care public health humanitarian work. During her tenure at NAU, she received numerous awards for being an Educator of Influence for graduating senior students. In the Fall of 2022, she received the President’s Diversity Award for increasing the number of minority dental hygiene student graduates.
She is a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and currently Trustee and Past President of the National Dental Hygienists’ Association. She is active in various community, civic, and church organizations, is an advisor for the Northern Arizona University (NAU) undergraduate chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and serves as a mentor and role model for minority dental hygiene students nationwide. Currently, she is the Associate Dean of the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, Worcester Campus housed in the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
She has published and presented on many different subjects including interprofessional collaboration, diversity, equity & inclusion, teledentistry, and dental therapy. Her numerous publications include a book chapter on Disability and Health care in *Darby & Walsh*, a book chapter on Minority Women in Educational Leadership, a book chapter titled *Teledentistry and Dental Hygiene* in the first Teledentistry book, several articles in *Dimensions of Dental Hygiene Magazine*, an article about Diversity in Allied Dental Programs for the *Journal of Dental Education*, and she also wrote a bilingual children’s book titled *I Want to Be a Dental High Genius*. Her dissertation *The Diversity Dilemma: A National Study of Minorities in Dental Hygiene Programs* addresses the need for more minority dental hygienists to provide health care for an increasingly diverse population.

Shawn Massey RDH, MHA

**Trustee-Membership/Hospitality**
Tennessee State University (Dental Hygiene AAS-2002, BS-2003), University Phoenix (Healthcare Administration-2010)
23 years of Dental experience

“My love for teeth and wanting to see everyone with a great smile drew me to the dental profession”

LaVerne Thomas RDH, BSDH

**Trustee-Scholarship**
For 12 years, LaVerne Thomas has served as a Registered Dental Hygienist. After meeting a dental hygienist during a routine teeth cleaning, post high school, LaVerne knew she wanted to pursue a career in dentistry. She decided to apply to a Dental Hygiene program in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. After graduating with her Associates Degree from Northampton Community College and beginning a career in private practice, two years later LaVerne made the decision to pursue her Bachelors Degree in Dental Hygiene from The University of Maryland School of Dentistry while working as a dental hygienist for a mobile dental program. It was in this role that her passion grew for Public Health. LaVerne began one of her most rewarding experiences working on the mobile dental unit for Children’s National Medical Center. Since then she has served in various roles including Public Health, Clinical Coordinator and Professional Educator. She serves as a member of the National Dental Hygienists’ Association which was founded by African American Dental Hygienists’ to address the special problems faced by the minority dental hygiene providers in the United States and worldwide. She is currently a Contract Dental Hygienist with a company that serves the United States Coast Guard. LaVerne has a genuine love and commitment to Public Health and regularly volunteers her time in the community all the while encouraging her colleagues to do the same.

Latisha Canty, RDH, BS, MSN

Trustee-Community Service/ Immediate Past President

Latisha has been a member of NDHA for 10 years and a dental hygienist for 12 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Clemson University. She received an Associates in Health Science from Midlands Technical College and a Masters in Nutrition Science from South Carolina State University.

Latisha believes that everyone has the right to have a healthy smile. She became a dental hygienist to help end dental care disparities among minorities. She has worked in both private and public care settings to heal smiles, one person at a time.