Cynthia L. Senior
Associate Professor-Education
Department:
SHR-Doc of Health Admin Prog
Email:
csenior@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 984-6314
Biography
Dr. Cynthia Senior has over fifteen years of clinical experience in the field of dental hygiene. Currently, she serves as an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Health Administration program within the School of Health Related Professions. Before joining SHRP, she held roles as the Director of Assessment, Education QI Director, and Associate Professor of dental hygiene at the School of Dentistry. Dr. Senior obtained her Baccalaureate degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in 2005, a Master of Education from William Carey University in 2013, and a Doctorate in Health Administration in 2020.
Originally from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Dr. Senior began her career as a registered dental hygienist in Gulfport's private practice sector. In 2013, she transitioned to a full-time faculty role within the Department of Dental Hygiene at UMMC School of Dentistry. Actively engaged in professional organizations, Dr. Senior serves as Treasurer of the Mississippi Dental Hygienists’ Association and is a clinical board examiner for national dental hygiene licensure examinations.
As a faculty member, Dr. Senior actively provided instruction across didactic, laboratory, and clinical settings. During her tenure as clinic director, Dr. Senior collaborated with peers to introduce a groundbreaking initiative: digitizing clinical assessment. This pioneering approach brought about a significant transformation in the clinical learning environment by offering students instant feedback. With the integration of digital tools, students were empowered to receive prompt evaluations and constructive feedback, enriching their educational journey and fostering ongoing development. Additionally, her scholarly endeavors encompass exploring ergonomics in dental education, assessment practices in higher education, and professionalism within the health sciences field.
In addition to her professional obligations, Dr. Senior harbors a profound dedication to community service, both locally and internationally. Together with her family, she has spearheaded dental mission trips to Togo, Africa, where they rendered indispensable dental care to over 300 patients in their most recent undertaking. Furthermore, Dr. Senior enjoys engaging in Pilates practice and instruction, having recently acquired certification to teach the discipline.
Education
| University of Mississippi Medical Center, DHA, Doctorate in Health Administration | 2020 |
| William Carey University, M.Ed, Education | 2013 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center, BS, Dental Hygiene | 2005 |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Certification, Local Anesthesia Permit, Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners | 10/2023 - Present |
| Licensure, Dental Hygiene License, Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners | 06/2005 - Present |
Current Positions
| Associate Professor, School of Dentistry, Department of Dental Hygiene | 07/2024 - Present |
| Instructor, School of Health Related Professions, Department of Dental Hygiene | 12/2013 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments
| Director, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 08/2022 - 06/2024 |
| Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Dentistry, Department of Dental Hygiene | 07/2018 - 06/2024 |
| Clinic Director, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Dentistry | 05/2017 - 08/2022 |
| Clinic Coordinator, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Health Related Professions | 05/2016 - 05/2017 |
Publications
Presentation | |
| “Minimizing Pathologic Aspiration in Patients Undergoing Esophageal and Lung Resections for Cancer,” Southern Thoracic Surgical Association Poster Presentation, Orlando, FL | 2023 |
Journal Article | |
| Senior, CL A Qualitative Look at Faculty Perspectives on Ergonomics in Dental Education | 2022 |
| Thikriat Al-Jewair BDS, MBA, MSc, MS, FRCD(C), Amy Kristina Herbert DDS, MFA, V. Leroy Leggitt DDS, MS, PhD, Tawana Lee Ware DDS, MSD, Maritzabel Hogge DDS, MS, MSMEd, Cynthia Senior RDH, MEd, Rebecca K. Carr MPH, John D. Da Silva DMD, MPH, Evaluation of Faculty Mentoring Practices in Seven U.S. Dental Schools Journal of Dental Education.2019; 83(12): 1392-1401 | 2019 |
Dissertation | |
| Senior CL, Burrell A, Bailey J, Arnold A, Bain J, Gatewood RS, Gordy J, Rogers P An Investigation of Dental Students’ Ergonomic Practices at the University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2020 |
Book Review | |
| Beemsterboer, P Ethics and Law in Dental Hygiene, 4th Edition | 2019 |
| Beemsterboer, P Ethics and Law in Dental Hygiene, 3rd Edition | 2015 |
Presentations
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Dentist and Dental Hygienist Perception of Generalized Supervision of Hygienists in Mississippi, UMMC, Jackson, MS | 2022 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Dental Hygiene Students' Perceptions of Demonstration Videos in Learning the Administration of Local Anesthesia, American Dental Education Association, Virtual | 06/2021 |
| Invited Symposia, Wellness and Prevention for all Professions, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS | 06/2019 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, The Importance of Trauma Informed Care, American Dental Hygienists' Association, Jacksonville, Fl | 06/2017 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, A Survey of Faculty Mentoring Programs in Academic Dentistry, American Dental Education Association, Long Beach, CA | 03/2017 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Edith H. Carter Travel Grant, Southern Association for Institutional Research | 2023 |
| TEACH Prize Finalist, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2022 |
| Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2022 |
| Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2021 |
| Espirit de Corps Nominee, UMMC's Office of Deiversity and Inclusion | 2021 |
| Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2020 |
| Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2019 |
| Member Spotlight, Academy of Communication in Healthcare | 2019 |
| TEACH Prize Finalist, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2018 |
| Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2018 |
Professional Membership and Service
| Southern Association for Institutional Research, Member | 2023 - Present |
| Mississippi Association for Institutional Research, Member | 2023 - Present |
| Mississippi Dental Hygienists' Association, Officer, Treasurer | 2022 - 2024 |
| Mississippi Dental Hygienists' Association, Officer, Other Officer | 2019 - 2020 |
| Mississippi Dental Hygienists' Association, Officer-President | 2018 - 2019 |
| Mississippi Dental Hygienists' Association, Officer, Other Officer | 2016 - 2018 |
| Mississippi Dental Hygienists' Association, Officer, Vice President | 2015 - 2016 |
| American Dental Education Association, Member | 2013 - Present |
| American Dental Hygienists' Association, Member | 2005 - Present |
| Mississippi Dental Hygienists' Association, Member | 2005 - Present |
Committee Service
| Potential Academic Change (PAC), Member | 2023 - Present |
| MEDICAL CENTER-STUDENT AFFAIRS COUNCIL, Member | 2023 - Present |
| UMMC SOM Assessment Subcommittee, Member | 2023 - Present |
| SACSCOC Evaluator, Site Evaluator | 2023 - Present |
| Institutional Assessment Committee, Chair | 2023 - Present |
| SACSCOC Leadership Committee, Member | 2023 - Present |
| SACSCOC Compliance Certification Committee, Member | 2023 - Present |
| Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Advisory Committee, Chair | 2022 - Present |
| Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), Clinical Examiner | 2019 - Present |
| SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY-ADMISSIONS, Member | 2016 - Present |
| Ms Dental Community College Advisory Committee, Member | 2016 - 2017 |
| UMMC SOD Dental Hygiene Admissions, Chair | 2015 - 2022 |
| UMMC SOD Dental Hygiene Admissions, Member | 2014 - Present |
| UMMC SOD Dental Hygiene Curriculum Committee, Member | 2013 - 2022 |
Teaching Experience
| DHA 776, SHRP, Course, Facilitator, Applied Research | Annual 2025 |
| DHA 798, SHRP, Course, Facilitator, Doctoral Project | Annual 2025 |
| DHA 767, SHRP, Course, Facilitator, Current Topics in Health Administration | Annual 2024 |
| DHA 791, SHRP, Course, Facilitator, Doctoral Project Proposal | Annual 2024 |
| DHA 754, SHRP, Course, Facilitator, Fundamentals of Applied Research | Annual 2024 |
| DH 323, Dentistry, Lab, Facilitator, Methods of Patient Care | Spring 2022 - 2022 |
| DH 420, Dentistry, Course, Course Director, Pain and Anxiety Management | Annual 2019 - 2022 |
| DH 455, Dentistry, Course, Grader, Capstone | Spring 2019 - 2021 |
| DH 444, Dentistry, Course, Course Director, Practice Management and Dental Specialties | Annual 2019 - 2020 |
| DH 433, Dentistry, Course, Course Director, Patient Care III | Annual 2018 - 2022 |
| DH 309, Dentistry, Course, Course Director, Dental Anatomy | Annual 2018 - 2021 |
| DH 446, Dentistry, Course, Course Director, Case Studies | Annual 2017 - 2022 |
| DH 405, Dentistry, Course, Course Director, Patient Care II | Annual 2017 - 2021 |
| DH 312, Dentistry, Lab, Facilitator, Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office | Annual 2017 |
| DH 336, Dentistry, Course, Course Director, Bio-Materials in Dentistry | Summer 2017 - 2017 |
| DH 327, Dentistry, Course, Course Director, Patient Care I | Annual 2016 - 2022 |
| DH 305, Dentistry, Lab, Facilitator, Instrumentation | Annual 2014 - 2021 |
| DH 429, Dentistry, Course, Course Director, Practice Management | Spring 2014 - 2018 |
Directed Student Learning
| Dissertation Committee Co-Chair, Attitudes and Perceptions of Mississippi Dentists and Dental Hygienists Toward Mid-Level Dental Providers Advised: Alana James |