05/31/2025
Six years ago, I met a brilliant, compassionate young woman from Jamaica named , and I knew instantlyāshe was RARE. Destined for greatness, rather excellence. Today, that same young lady is a Harvard Dental School graduate, class president, and commencement speaker. Let that sink in.
To say Iām proud is an understatement. Watching her journey unfold has been one of the greatest privileges of my lifeānot just as her mentor, but as someone who loves her and deeply believes in changing the ratio.
In a field where less than 4% of dentists in the U.S. are Black, and even fewer are women, representation matters. It matters for every little girl sitting in a classroom in Jamaica, the Bronx, Atlanta, or Africa who dares to dream bigger than her circumstances. Because when they see someone who looks like them in these spaces, it doesnāt just inspireāit activates something in them. It says, āI belong here too.ā
Harvard is one of the most competitive institutions in the world. And yet, Tashauna you didnāt just attendāyou led. That is no small feat. That is legacy in motion.
People often ask what drives me in this profession. What has motivated my own success? The truth is, it was never just about mastering dental aesthetics. My real passion has and always will be about other peopleās lives. Who we could touch, the doors we could help open, and the shoulders we could offer others to stand on.
And while Iāve poured so much into Tashauna over the years, the truth is⦠now she pours into me. Grandly. Watching her become the woman she is today fills me with a sense of joy, purpose, and hope that words can hardly capture. Tears fall as I think about how lucky I am to be YOUR MENTOR.
Tashauna, you are everything I hoped for and more. I love you deeply. Your light shines so brightly, and itās lighting the way for countless others. Your impact is so vast, please know you have been called for this work, this work that is such much bigger than you, this work that will change generations. Our ancestors are so proud.