President
Jennifer Pearl, RDH, CPHDH, BSBA
Jennifer is a 2005 graduate of NHTI with an Associate's Degree in Dental Hygiene. She also holds a BSBA-Accounting degree from UMass Lowell, along with certificates in Local Anesthesia and Dental Laser Therapy. Jennifer worked for 8 years in the eldercare field in Massachusetts and currently works full-time in a Concord, NH private practice. Jennifer lives in Concord, NH with her husband and two children. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and vacationing in South Carolina every summer.
During her 8 years as a Financial Accountant and her years as a Dental Hygienist, Jennifer developed a passion for working with the elderly patient population to overcome challenges they face in maintaining optimum oral health. Jennifer served as NHDHA Treasurer, for years, and now serves as President.
Immediate Past President / CE Chair
Myra Nikitas, RDH
Myra has been in the dental field for over 20 years, starting out as a dental assistant, then continuing on to graduate with her degree in Dental Hygiene from NHTI Concord in 2005. She completed her certification in Local Anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide Administration and Monitoring in 2010. Myra is now in the process of becoming a Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist, as well.
Myra currently practices dental hygiene in a private practice in Nashua, NH, and donates her time to the Greater Nashua Dental Connection, providing school-aged children with free preventative dental care. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Nashua Dental Connection, where she is passionate about giving back to the dental community. She also serves on the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners as Dental Hygiene Committee Chair.
With great enthusiasm and the belief that prevention is key, Myra often visits elementary schools to educate kids and faculty on the importance of oral health. She is an experienced, empathetic, and compassionate clinician who takes pride in her profession in Dental Hygiene.
Secretary
Lisa Centrella, CDA, RDH, MSDH, MPH
Lisa is a dental hygienist for over 20 years receiving her dental hygiene degree at Middlesex Community College. Following her passion in oral health she continued her education at MCPHS University Boston. She earned her duel master’s degree in Masters of Dental Hygiene, and Masters of Public Health in 2017. While in her master’s program she published a literature review on Oral Health of Post Bariatric Surgery Recipients in the Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care Journal. She now is a dedicated Professor in the Allied Dental Education Department at NHTI. Her role as co-coordinator for first year dental hygiene students, as well as instructor for didactic classes has given her the opportunity to teach her skills for future oral health providers. Lisa also teaches dental continued education at NHTI business training center. She continues to work in private practice and working on becoming Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist.
Treasurer
Pam Delahanty, RDH, CPHDH, BS
A graduate of Westbrook College with four decades of clinical experience, Pam is passionate about community health and has spent many years working in a school-based hospital sponsored dental program, and is a recipient of the Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction.
Pam has volunteered with the Peterborough Jamaica Traveling Health Clinic bringing much-needed health and dental care to the people of Jamaica. She has served in many roles on the Board of Trustees of the NHDHA, including President and National Delegate, and as a member of the NH Oral Health Coalition Steering Committee.
She also maintains a connection with our future leaders - the dental hygiene students at NHTI on behalf of the NHDHA as the Board’s Student Liaison.
Director & Governance Committee Chairperson
Anne Despres, RDH, BA
Anne holds a BA in Theatre Arts and an Associate's Degree in Dental Hygiene. Currently, she works full-time at a general dentistry office.
Adaptable, a willing helper, and comfortable with public speaking, Anne believes in leading from a place of mutual respect. She has diverse interests and life experiences.
Director / Student Liaison
Rachel Leo Flagg, RDH, MA
Rachel has over 35 years of experience as a clinical dental hygienist and has over 24 years of experience as a dedicated dental hygiene educator. She is a graduate of Westbrook College now University of New England and earned her Master’s at Connecticut College.
Rachel has taught at the University of New England as a Clinical Dental Hygiene Instructor and is currently a Professor in the Allied Dental Education Department at NHTI where she teaches didactically Radiology and Pharmacology. In addition to her didactic teaching, she is a Clinical Instructor and coordinates all aspects of the radiology experience for both freshman and senior dental hygiene students and is the Radiation Health and Safety Officer.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Rachel has been an advisor for the Student American Dental Hygienists' Association (SADHA) for the past 15 years. She also teaches in the Workforce Education Department at NHTI and teaches the Dental Hygiene Refresher Course which is designed for non-practicing dental hygienists seeking reinstatement of their license or for the practicing hygienist wanting to update their clinical skills, standard of care, and best practices.
In 2019, she was appointed by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) to be a Test Constructor for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). Rachel is also a member of the NH Forensic Dental ID Team. She enjoys spending time with her family and participating in any fun outdoor adventure.
Director
Anne Sleeper, RDH, CPHDH
Anne has been a dental hygienist for over 35 years. For the past 12 years, she has been employed at Wentworth Health Partners Dental Center. Anne has served on the NHDHA Board of Trustees for years, including as President. With a deep belief that prevention is key, Anne has developed educational programs for school children, K-4, and enjoys educating the public at seminars and events. Anne is a member of the NH Granite State Diabetes Educators and has presented on the oral-systemic link. She believes it is important to collaborate with other health disciplines for best practices and outcomes for patients. A graduate of Westbrook College, Anne currently is pursuing a BS degree at Granite State College. She is certified to administer local anesthetic and was one of the first dental hygienists in NH to become a Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist.
Director & CE Committee
Kathryn Harper, RDH
Public Health and extending dental services to the underserved has always been a passion for Kathryn. In CA she volunteered in the dental clinic at Santa Monica Hospital and traveled with the Flying Samaritans to do dental clinics in Baja Mexico. For many years Kathryn represented NHDHA on the New Hampshire Oral Health Coalition Steering Committee as well as an alternate delegate to several ADHA annual conferences. She also volunteers and has volunteered many times over the years with Cheshire smiles, screening children in local elementary schools and participating in sealant clinics.
She has a special place in her heart for the elderly and wants to spread the word that there should be a paid position for a dental hygienist in EVERY nursing home nationwide!!!
Kathryn is bilingual and has experience as an educator both at USC School of Dentistry and as a Dental Hygiene instructor in Bilbao Spain.
She hopes her many varied professional, and personal experiences can continue to elevate respect for her profession by the public and all Allied Health Professions with the goal of expanding the legal scope of practice of dental hygiene, in hopes of reaching more of the underserved population.
Director
Rosa Grzejka, RDH
Rosa is a graduate of NHTI with an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene, and certificates in Local Anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide Administration and Monitoring. She also proudly served as President of NHTI’s chapter of the Student American Dental Hygiene Association during her time at NHTI.
Rosa is passionate about oral health and helping bridge the gap in dental care for under-served populations, as well as using dental hygiene as a channel for positive change, empowerment, and service to local communities.
Currently Rosa is working at a pediatric and general practice dentistry office, is pursuing a BS in biology, and working towards becoming a Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist.
Advocacy Chair
Joan Fitzgerald, ASDH, BS, CPHDH, CDP
Joan is an accomplished health professional with experience in community health advocacy, leadership and forging partnerships that deliver genuine results. Joan has in-depth knowledge of the nonprofit sector including Board of Director fiduciary responsibilities, cultivating stakeholder relationships, liaison activity, and grant management. An advanced practice clinician with the Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist and Certified Dementia Practitioner credentials, Joan established an agency model to bring oral health primary prevention services to the homebound through a Capstone project at the UNH College of Professional Studies. She currently is a part-time lecturer on oral health policy and epidemiology, and a project partner with the HRSA Catalyzing Oral Health Workforce-Rural Track residency program at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Joan was a member of a research team from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science MSDH program, whose published research is cited in the 2021 U. S. Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health: “Access to Preventive Oral Health Services for Homebound Populations: A pilot program”. Joan served as President of the NHDHA in 1995-6, and 2008-9 and on the Board of Directors of the American Dental Hygienists Association from 2011 to 2015. She also served the first term of the Dental Hygienists’ Committee of the Board of Dental Examiners. With this unique experience at the local, state and national levels of the profession of dental hygiene, Joan brings a valued perspective to this advocacy leadership position.
