Bobbi Steele Hesson

"After graduating from West Virginia University with a B.S. in dental hygiene, I went on to work at a Federally Qualified Health Center/Community Health Center where I realized my passion for working with the underserved population.

After being there for two years, I found myself in an unexpected leadership role within the organization. Being in an administrative role for a brief time, I realized I enjoyed the challenge but also had much to learn about grant writing, evaluations, developing strategic plans, etc. At the encouragement of a mentor, I applied to and was accepted to the WVU School of Public Health master's program. The knowledge and experience provided by the Master of Public Health program allowed me to further my education and advance my career.

Currently, I am director of the Community Oral Health Division, Dental and Oral Surgery Department at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University. I have had the opportunity to serve on national and state boards, conduct research, and be a presenter at the national level, along with other career highlights that I never dreamt of when I started."