Who We Are
Here you will find members of the WVDHA Volunteer Board. Follow this link to view our component's (Tri-State Dental Hygienists’ Association) volunteer board!
Featuring your volunteer officers of executive board!
Lauren French, BSDH RDH
President &
Membership Chair
Lauren is a Public Health Registered Dental Hygienist in rural Pocahontas County, WV. She graduated from Bridgemont Community and Technical College with an associate degree in Dental Hygiene in 2013, where she served as SADHA Treasurer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene through West Liberty University in 2021 and plans to further her education in Public Health. Since graduating in 2013, she has worked as a clinical hygienist in public health and private practice settings, in addition to teaching clinical hygiene as an adjunct faculty member. She enjoys volunteering for organizations such as RAM, providing care to underserved populations. Lauren is passionate about integrated patient care and especially passionate about addressing public health needs, such as access to care disparities in rural West Virginia communities.
Lauren and her three children live in Marlinton, WV and enjoy being outdoors hiking, kayaking and fishing. Lauren coaches’ soccer and enjoys engaging with the children in her small community. In her free-time, she loves to take spontaneous road trips, attend music festivals/shows, and traveling someplace new.
Robyn Mills, BSDH, RDH
Vice President
Robyn Shabdue Mills, BSDH is currently serving as Assistant Professor, SADHA Advisor, and Clinic Coordinator at BridgeValley Department of Dental Hygiene. She has 30 years of clinical dental hygiene experience and 24 years of dental office manager experience. Robyn has also served as an adjunct instructor teaching didactic courses and providing clinical instruction prior to accepting the full-time faculty position. Her resume includes ample activity with the Charleston Dental Hygiene Study Club, Kanawha Valley Dental Hygiene Association, and West Virginia Dental Hygienists Association. She has served these associations in several officer roles and is presently the Vice-President of the West Virginia Dental Hygiene Association. The highlight of her career thus far was working with lobbyists, WVBODE, and WVDA during her term as WVDHA President to eventually obtain local anesthesia under direct supervision for hygienists in 2003. Robyn’s areas of expertise include oral pathology, nutrition, local anesthesia, and radiology. She has provided continuing education courses at WVDHA, KVDHA, NRDHA, NRDA, MVDHA, and WVDA meetings on the topics of medical emergencies, nitrous oxide monitoring, and infection control.
Ashlee Sowards, BSDH, MSDH, NCTTP
Treasurer
Ashlee has been a full time faculty member of the WVU School of Dentistry, Department of Dental Hygiene since 2011. She received her BSDH from WVU in 2007 and her MSDH from WVU in 2011. While pursuing her master’s degree, she also worked in a private practice in Morgantown, WV. She received her NCTTP (National Certificate in Tobacco Treatment Practice) from UMDNJ in April 2013. She utilizes this certification while teaching and treating clients at the WVU School of Dentistry. Ashlee is very active with committee work on four levels: the Department of Dental Hygiene, the School of Dentistry, the Health Sciences Center, and the University. She is currently serving her second three-year term as one of two elected representatives from the School of Dentistry on the WVU Faculty Senate. She will be serving as Chair of the WVU Faculty Senate Teaching Assessment Committee for the 2019-2020 academic year. In addition to teaching, Ashlee serves as a Faculty Mentor to students as they complete their 2-year research study. She resides in Fairmont, WV with her old son, Carson.
Heather Fogus,RDH,BSDH
Immediate Past President
Heather was installed during the Annual Session and CE Event September 23, 2017. She is studying to receive her Master's in Career and Technical Education through Marshall University. Heather is a 2014 graduate of BridgeValley CTC. Prior to studying dental hygiene she worked as a certified dental assistant with Fizer Dental Care. Heather is now a Dental Assisting Instructor at ACT in Beckley, WV. Heather lives in White Sulphur Springs, WV with her husband Josh and children Hallie and Raylan. She loves to cook and travel, enjoying the adventure and beauty offered by West Virginia.
Carly Scala, BSDH, RDH
Webmaster
Carly is a Parkersburg, WV native that graduated in 2014 from West Virginia University as her SADHA Class President. She was the recipient of the "Golden Scaler" award and the Robert E. Sausen Distinguished Student award while at West Virginia University. After practicing full-time clinically in Vienna, WV for 5 years, Carly relocated to Charleston, WV to pursue a grant-funded research position through WVU Research Corporation. Upon the grant's completion in 2022, Carly transitioned to education at BridgeValley Community and Technical College as full-time faculty. Carly is pursuing her Master's degree from Marshall University in Leadership Studies.
Gina Sharps,BSDH, MPH, RDH
Legislative Chair
Gina Sharps is a graduate of West Virginia University obtaining a B.S. degree in 1993 and a
Masters of Public Health degree in 2012. She has worked in both private and public sectors of
the dental profession over the span of twenty nine years and currently serves as an oral health
coordinator with both Marshall University and the West Virginia Oral Health Coalition. On a
national level, Gina sits on the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD)
Fluorides Committee along with acting as the Co-Lead Consultant for the National Center on
Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety’s Dental Hygienists Liaison Project.
Gina is a past president and the current legislative liaison for the West Virginia Dental
Hygienists’ Association and in her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and
spending time with her doggies.
Janna Thornsbury, MSDH, RDH, NCTTP
Secretary
Janna is a 2003 graduate of WVU Institute of Technology where she obtained an AS degree in Dental Hygiene. She went on to graduate from Marshall University in 2018 with a BS degree in Health Science, and in 2022 received her MSDH from West Liberty University. Presently, she is a public health dental hygienist and the Research Coordinator for the Community Oral Health Division at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University. Janna lives in Winfield, WV with her husband and two children, and in her free time enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Mary Ann Yandrich,BSDH,RDH
Tri-State DHA Trustee
Mary Ann received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from West Liberty State College. She has worked in private practice in Ohio and West Virginia throughout her professional career. At present, she is employed as an Academic Laboratory Instructing Assistant in the Sarah Whitaker Glass School of Dental Hygiene at West Liberty University (formerly, West Liberty State College)