DALLAS - Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas recently honored three new Hall of Fame inductees. Drs. Amp W. Miller III, Ernestine S. Lacy, and John S. Findley each continue to serve and build the dental profession.
“We are the crown jewel for A&M in Dallas,” said Dr. Lily T. García, dean. “I extend my deep appreciation to those who advance our college as a highly regarded academic dental institution, known for clinical excellence, high-impact research and outstanding service through which our students learn through direct patient care.”
A fixture at the dental college, Miller began teaching part-time in 1973 in the fixed prosthodontics department at what was then Baylor College of Dentistry, his alma mater. He’s taught a range of courses, from preclinical to graduate prosthodontics. Currently, Miller teaches fixed prosthodontics, operative dentistry and removable prosthodontics in the predoctoral program and is part of the advanced education general dentistry program and graduate prosthodontics program. He serves as interim assistant department head of comprehensive dentistry.
Miller earned his dental degree in 1973 and a prosthodontic certificate in 1980. He also served as interim chair of restorative services, director of curriculum and briefly as interim associate dean for clinical affairs.
Students recognized his outstanding teaching with Teacher of the Year awards in 1992, 2005, 2011, 2018 and this year.
A born educator, Lacy began her professional career with a bachelor’s in mathematics and minors in French and physics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She taught high school math and science for 17 years before entering what was then Baylor College of Dentistry, where she earned a dental degree and an AEGD certificate.
Lacy became an assistant professor in the restorative sciences department. She’s also served as director of academic programs, director of student services and executive director of student development. Lacy is associate dean for student affairs and a tenured professor in the comprehensive dentistry department.
She’s served as principal investigator and project director since 1999, overseeing nearly $16 million in grant funding that supports the dental college’s Bridge to Dentistry pipeline programs. Under her leadership, the dental college was recently awarded its third consecutive 5-year Center of Excellence grant from the Health and Human Services Administration.
On a national level, Lacy facilitated the American Dental Education Association’s Admissions Workshops and served as a reviewer for the Journal of Dental Education and HRSA grant applications.
Findley, a practicing dentist in Plano and a 1970 graduate of what was then Baylor University College of Dentistry, also studied at what was then North Texas State University, Southern Methodist University and the United States Air Force Academy. He served eight years in the Air Force and the Air Force Reserve.
Among his many leadership roles, Findley was the 2008 president and subsequent interim executive director of the American Dental Association. Prior to that, he was a trustee from the 15th district (Texas) and chaired numerous committees, including the Commission on Dental Education and Licensure, Dental Practice, Scientific Affairs, and Government Affairs. He also served as president of Texas Dental Association and the Dallas County Dental Society. Findley served as legislative chairman of TDA.
The mayor of Cross Roads from 1992 to 1994, Findley also served on the town council. Additionally, he served as president of the Plano Rotary Club and was a board member of the Plano Chamber of Commerce and the Plano YMCA.
He continues to serve as the community dental health officer for Dallas County Dental Society and recently completed his term as chair of Baylor Oral Health Foundation Nominating Committee (2020-23).
Findley was honored with Distinguished Alumnus recognition from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1996 and the Texas Dental Association’s Gold Medal for Distinguished Service in 2015.