About Us Ohio Dental Hygienists' Association

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Association is to support Dental Hygienists through networking, inclusion, and development; to advocate for advancements to secure the profession of dental hygiene; and to promote public access to care.

Vision Statement

Empower Ohio Dental Hygienists as primary healthcare providers to be a leading resource for oral health promotion and therapy in all settings through professional collaboration, advocacy, and lifelong learning.

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ODHA Component Trustees

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Leesa Abell

Cincinnati Trustee

I went to Columbus State Community College for hygiene school and graduated in 2014. I have worked at the same dental practice for my entire career! I love getting to know my patients and educating them about oral health. Learning new procedures and techniques is also an important part of my practice. I am excited to be an advocate for our profession while serving as a Trustee. Becoming more involved with our local and state organization will be a great experience. My husband and I live in Waynesville with our horse and cats. When I'm not practicing, I enjoy reading, running marathons, and watching football.

Cincinnati Trustee

Alex Hoffer

Cleveland Trustee

I graduated from Cuyahoga Community college, and I currently work full time at an office in Mentor. I am the current Trustee for the Cleveland Dental Hygienists Association; this is my first year in this role and I have been enjoying it very much. I am a proud member of the ADHA from my first year in Hygiene school. I look forward to learning all that I can from my trustee position and meeting many other professionals in my field. In my free time I like to enjoy my days with my girlfriend, and our two dogs Phoebe and Elsa. As well as playing video games and working out to stay healthy.

Cleveland Trustee

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Niki Dauch

Cleveland Trustee

I proudly served seven years in the Ohio National Guard, including one deployment overseas. Now, I'm a dedicated dental hygienist, committed to providing exceptional patient care in Vermilion, Ohio.
I graduated with honors from Lorain County Community College in May 2023 with a degree in Dental Hygiene, and I was elected class president. Currently, I'm an active member of the American Dental Hygiene Association and recently accepted the Trustee role for the Cleveland Component.
I reside in Huron, Ohio with my husband and our 4 year old daughter. I enjoy reading books, spending time with family, binge watching shows, and traveling.

Cleveland Trustee

Kim Harlan

Columbus Trustee

Rachel Christopher

Dayton Trustee

The Marine JROTC program in high school inspired me to join the US Air Force delayed entry program. After leaving the military, I explored various job opportunities while searching for something that would bring me fulfillment. I married my best friend in 1996 and we have traveled the world together. At Bitburg Air Force Base in Germany, I discovered my passion for the dental field through a Red Cross dental assistant training program. Upon returning to the US, I completed and expanded functions dental assisting program at Apollo College in Boise, Idaho, where my husband was stationed for the US Air Force. After graduating, while working in a pediatric office and planning for a second child I decided to stay home to give our children the kind of childhood many parents aspire to provide. Once my children were older I enrolled in the Dental Health Sciences program at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I graduated as a registered dental hygienist at the age of 50. This experience reaffirmed that you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks.

Dayton Trustee

Northeastern Trustee

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Nancy Shuffle

Northwestern Trustee

Nancy Williams Shuffle is native of the State of Michigan, growing up in Ann Arbor. She received her BA from the University of Michigan in 1980. Her Father, Uncle and Grandfather were all Dentists and after moving to Ohio and starting a family, she decided to go back to school in order to study Dental Hygiene. She received her Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene from Rhodes State college in 2005. Her honors included being named the Outstanding Dental Hygiene Student class of 2005, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene Honor Society. She serves on the Rhodes State College Dental Hygiene Advisory Board and was inducted into the Rhodes State College Alumni Circle of Excellence in 2018.

Nancy has been a member of ADHA since her graduation from Rhodes State College and has served the Northwestern Component as Vice President, President and currently as a Trustee. Nancy is also active on the State level. She serves on OHYPAC having been Treasurer for 3 years, on the Legislative Committee and on the Policy By-Laws Council as the Annual Report Chair. She was surprised and honored to receive the Outstanding Service Award during ODHA’s Annual Session in 2023.

A professional singer, Nancy has performed ministry, classical and pops concerts all over the United States and in Europe, Israel and Australia. She has also performed nearly 70 leading roles in musical theater productions. Vocal Performance and Dental Hygiene seem like an odd combination, but this was exactly the subject when Nancy was featured in RDH Magazine on August 1, 2012. She loves to perform with her husband John, who is also a professional singer. Married for 20 years, combined they have 5 children and 11 grandchildren, who keep them extremely busy. In what little free time they have, they love to travel and take ballroom dancing classes.

Northwestern Trustee

Shannon Tilenni

Stark Trustee

Shannon Tilenni has been a member of the Ohio dental hygiene association for the past 19 years. She is currently the trustee for the Stark Collaborative Dental Hygiene Association and has previously served as trustee for the Akron component. She currently works in private practice in Canton, Ohio where she’s provided great dental hygiene services for the past 15 years. When she’s not at work you can find her at the gym, reading a good book or cheering on her two wonderful kids.

Stark Trustee

Pat Powers

Toledo Trustee

Pat graduated from Lakeland Community College in 1977 with an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene. She has been a member of ADHA and ODHA since graduation. Pat is currently retired from her position as a clinical Dental Hygienist from an office that she was employed at for 34 years. She was a clinical Dental Hygienist for 44 years. Pat has had a passion for her profession and her professional association. She had the honor of being ODHA President in 1994-95 and has held many positions in ODHA. Pat was Immediate Past President, President, President Elect, Speaker of the House, Vice President, Secretary(2terms), Trustee, ODHA Delegate and Alternate, and ADHA Delegate and Alternate and has also served on numerous
Councils and Committees. Pat has had the privilege of serving as the Speaker of the Student House of Delegates for over 20 years. She has always felt that it is important to be involved in her professional association so that she could help guide her association and to have a voice.

Dental Hygiene has been a great career path for Pat. None of her achievements would have been possible without the support of her husband, Bruce, and her three children, Andy (44), Adam (42), and Erin (40). They have been supportive of all of her accomplishments in her Dental Hygiene profession. In her spare time, Pat and her husband enjoy camping, and she enjoys reading and doing
jigsaw puzzles. Pat is also involved in her church where she plays bass guitar in the Praise band and she the Praise Band Coordinator.

Toledo Trustee

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Bryn Hartman

Tri-County Trustee

Bryn graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Youngstown State University in 2017. Since then, she has continued her education and went on to receive a Master of Health and Human Services degree from YSU in 2020. Currently, she is finishing up her PhD in Health Sciences at YSU.

Bryn worked in clinical dental hygiene for 6 years and was a part-time faculty member at Youngstown State University before transitioning into her current role as the Dental Hygiene Program Administrator at YSU.

She has served as a Delegate at ODHA Annual Session and currently serves as Trustee for her local component.

Tri-County Trustee

ODHA Council Chairs

Annual Session Council Chair

Michelle Tracy

Amy Merritt

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Continuing Education Council Chair

Kelly Oberg, ODHA CE Council Chair

Kelly Oberg is a dedicated dental hygienist and respected leader in the dental hygiene community. With over 20 years of experience, she combines a commitment to exceptional patient care with a passion for professional advocacy and education.

Kelly graduated with honors from Sinclair Community College in 2003 and has since pursued advanced certifications, including Local Anesthesia (The Ohio State University, 2007) and Nitrous Oxide Administration (2012). In 2021, she expanded her expertise by earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from Western Governor's University.

Kelly’s clinical expertise was honed during her 16-year tenure at Dr. Bryan Dodd's dental office in Beavercreek, Ohio, where she consistently delivers the highest standard of care. Her dedication to education continues in her role as an adjunct faculty member at Sinclair Community College, which she began in 2024, mentoring future dental hygienists and collaborating with fellow educators.

An active advocate for the profession, Kelly has served in numerous leadership roles within dental hygiene associations at both the state and local levels. These include Secretary, President, Delegate, Trustee, ODHA President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past-President. As the current ODHA CE Council Chair, Kelly continues to champion ongoing professional development. Her contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the "Margie A. Pearce Award" (2012) and the "Outstanding Service Award" (2020).

Originally from West Virginia, Kelly joined the U.S. Air Force in 1995, where she met her husband, Richard. Together, they have raised two accomplished children: Christian, who serves in the Armed Forces alongside his wife, Crystal, and Victoria, who is pursuing her master’s degree in mathematics.

Kelly’s unwavering dedication to her profession, her students, and her family underscores her as a trusted leader and mentor in the dental hygiene field.

Kelly Oberg

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Government Relations Council Chair

My name is Nancy Stanwick, Associate Professor/Clinic Coordinator for the Dental Hygiene department at Stark State College. My experience includes 30 years in dental hygiene education and 36 years of clinical practice as a dental hygienist.

My educational journey began at Lakeland Community College, where I graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene in 1986. After graduation, I earned a Bachelor and Master degrees in Technical Education from the University of Akron in 1991. In 1992, I was hired as Clinical Preceptor at Cuyahoga Community College. My responsibilities included daily operations of the clinic, administration, teaching (dental hygiene and assisting students), and student advisor for the American Dental Hygiene Association. In addition to my position responsibilities, I was an active member of the Cleveland Dental Hygiene Association.

In 1997, I was asked to become a member of the dental hygiene advisory committee at Stark State College. During this time, many hours were spent in the development and accreditation process for the dental hygiene program. In the summer of 1998, I was hired, part-time, to teach the first dental hygiene course at Stark State College. And subsequently was hired full time as instructor, clinic coordinator, and student advisor for the American Dental Hygiene Association. I am currently an Associate Professor/Clinic Coordinator for the Dental Hygiene Program at Stark State College.

In addition to teaching, I have served in many capacities for the Akron Dental Hygiene Association as President, Vice President, Registrar, and Legislative contact. After the Akron component dissolved, I became an active member for Stark Collaborative Dental Hygiene Association as trustee for three years, delegate, Vice President, and currently the President. I am also the Chair of the Government Relations Council for the Ohio Dental Hygiene Association.

Nancy Stanwick

Policy and Bylaws Council Chair

Gretchen is a 1998 graduate of Rhodes State College with her AAS in Dental Hygiene. In 2011 she graduated with her BAS in Dental Hygiene from Siena Heights University.

Gretchen has been an active member of her local component, Northwestern, ODHA and ADHA since graduation.

Gretchen has served as President of NWODHA seven different times. For her component, over the last 20+ years, she has been President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Alternate and Delegate, Legislative Chair, Newsletter Editor, Membership Chair, Bylaws Chair, and many special committees.

Gretchen has also been active for ODHA. Currently she is the Policy and Bylaws Council Chair. Most notably, she is a Past President of ODHA. She served the organization as President in 2007. She has been President; President-Elect; Immediate Past President; Speaker of the House; Vice President; Annual Session Council Chair; Total Development Weekend Council Chair; Administrative Planning Council Chair; ADHA delegate, senior delegate, and Alternate delegate; O-HY-PAC Director; Policy Review Committee Chair; a member of the Legislative Committee and Finance Committee.

Gretchen has worked in private practice for 25 years.

When she is not at work, she is actively participating in her children's lives. Ethan, 22 years, is active duty U.S. Army; Sheridan, 18 years just started his first year of college at Northwest State Community College with an Science major; Aleah 16 years is active in band, soccer, tack, Science Olympiad and various other academics.

After 29 years of marriage, let us not forget her husband, Sean. Without his support, her service to her profession and family would not be possible.

Gretchen Matty

Student Council Chair

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I am a dedicated registered dental hygienist with a bachelor’s degree, passionate about promoting oral health and enhancing patient well-being. Before pursuing my career in dental hygiene, I was a licensed optician, where I developed a keen eye for detail and a commitment to providing exceptional patient care.

I’ve been happily married for 32 years and am the proud mother of a 19-year-old son who continues to inspire me every day. Having lived in several states during my upbringing, I’ve had the privilege of meeting a diverse array of people from various backgrounds, which has enriched my perspective and deepened my appreciation for different cultures.

In my free time, I love spending time with my family, being outside on my farm with my dogs, and being active in my dental hygiene association. I believe that every interaction is an opportunity to learn and grow, and I’m excited to continue my journey in both my personal and professional life.

Leah Campbell