Jeanne Sinkford

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.[1]

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. Later, she chaired the prosthodontics department at Howard,[1] and she completed a residency in pediatric dentistry in 1974-1975.[2]

In 1975, Sinkford was named dean of the dental school at Howard, becoming the first female dean at a U.S. dental school. Sinkford remained dean until 1991. Sinkford then became associate executive director of the American Dental Education Association.[3] She established its Center for Equity and Diversity in 1998, and directed it for 17 years.[4]

In 2015, Sinkford received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Dental Association.[5] 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.[6]

Sinkford met her husband Stanley at Howard University. He became a cardiologist.[1] They had three children.[7]