Jeanne Sinkford

Jeanne Craig Sinkford (born 1933) is an American dentist and academic administrator. She was the first female dean of an American dental school. She is a senior scholar in residence at the American Dental Education Association and a professor and dean emeritus at the dental school of Howard University.

Biography

Sinkford was born in 1933, one of four sisters who all went on to attend college. She said that her parents, a grandfather, and her experiences at a Catholic middle school contributed to her disciplined upbringing. She attended Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., a school for high-achieving African Americans, where she was a member of the cadet corps.

At the age of 16, Sinkford enrolled in college at Howard University, studying psychology and chemistry before pursuing dental school there. After graduating from dental school, Sinkford was a faculty member in prosthodontics, had a part-time dental practice, and earned a Ph.D. in physiology at Northwestern University. This made her the first female prosthodontist with a PhD degree.

Later, she chaired the prosthodontics department at Howard, and she completed a residency in pediatric dentistry in 1974-1975. On July 1, 1975, Sinkford became the first female dean of an American dental school when she was appointed the dean of Howard University, School of Dentistry. Sinkford remained dean until 1991. Sinkford then became associate executive director of the American Dental Education Association. She established its Center for Equity and Diversity in 1998, and directed it for 17 years.

In 2015, Sinkford received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Dental Association. She is also a past recipient of the Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She is a member of the Institute of Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Denists and the International College of Dentists.

Sinkford met her husband Stanley at Howard University. He became a cardiologist. They had three children.