Esteemed Alumna Got Her Start with MCC’s Dental Hygiene Program

Middlesex Community College alumna Sarah Crow wants people to know that dental hygienists do more than just clean teeth. Having been awarded Dental Hygienist of the Year at the 2021 Yankee Dental Conference and as the President-Elect for the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA) in Massachusetts, Crow believes it her mission to spread awareness of the value of her profession.

Referring to her nomination as dental hygienist of the year as a “dream,” Crow appreciated the outreach and support she received from her professors and the dental community as a whole. As President of the ADHA, her wish is to unite the dental community further and work on legislative initiatives. She believes she got an “elite start” with Middlesex’s program.

“Attending MCC was some of the best years of my life,” she said. “I have fond memories of the friends I made, the professors I encountered, and the experiences I was so fortunate to have. It’s not just about the curriculum – it’s about the professors and their passion for what they do and how they mentor each student in their path. I will be forever proud to be a graduate of MCC!”

From Lawrence, Crow started in MCC’s Dental Hygiene program at age 29 and balanced her coursework and student responsibilities with being a wife, mother and step-mother. Having been surrounded by a community of hard-working classmates much like herself, she witnessed how Middlesex provided students with opportunities “to make something of themselves and their lives on their own.”

“I know MCC had a great reputation when it came to dental hygiene,” she said. “It was a great location and I loved the character that came with a community college. I felt as though most of the students I met were like me in a sense.”

At Middlesex, Crow was elected president of MCC’s student club Student Members of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SMADHA) two years in a row. In this role, she honed her multi-tasking and leadership skills that would lend to her future career.

“Leading my class meant unifying and leading by example,” she said. “Our class was able to raise thousands of dollars through fundraising events which were used to give back to the students and the community that surrounded us.”

Crow also took advantage of the networking opportunities available to her, including attending a conference for the state’s professional association and acting as Master of Ceremonies for the 2015 Yankee Dental Congress Student Business meeting in Boston where she gave a speech entitled “The Power of Belief.”

After graduating from MCC in 2014, Crow got an immediate job at a dental office and worked her way up to the role of lead hygienist. She was also asked to serve as Council Chair on Public Relations for the Mass. Dental Hygienists’ Association not long after graduation.

Her office manager at the time – who had years of experience in the field – told Crow that “the best hygienists come from Middlesex.” This made Crow even prouder to be an MCC alumna and “validated what I knew to be true in my heart.”

“I owe my entire career to the Dental Hygiene program at MCC,” she said. “I’ve continued my studies in the area of Dental Hygiene education with hopes to teach at the very school that gave me my start in this wonderful career.”

Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/dhdepartment/ for more information on MCC’s Dental Hygiene program, or contact Sarah Peterson-Taggard, MCC’s Administrative Assistant of the Dental Programs at petersons@middlesex.mass.edu or 978-656-3054.

MCC is celebrating 50 years! If you have ever taken a class at MCC, you are an alum! To share your story – and join in on the 50th anniversary celebrations – contact Amy Lee, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at 978-656-3028 or leea@middlesex.mass.edu. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/alumni/ for more information and to join the Alumni Association.

MCC’s accelerated eight-week Spring Mini-mester starts on Monday, March 29. Complete general requirements and earn credits with the same high-quality content, academic standards and number of instructional hours as courses scheduled in the traditional 15-week semester. To register, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!