Working

Anne Kornegay, RDH, MS

Anne Kornegay, RDH, MS, of Roanoke, Va., has been involved in education almost since the beginning of her dental hygiene career. “The educational realm was always very interesting to me, and I think that goes back to having strong role models and mentors,” she explained.

Kornegay had originally been a special education major, but after getting married and moving back to her hometown, she decided to change her education track.

“I went over to the university and talked to the program director at the time, and he convinced me that [dental hygiene] was something that I should do,” she explained. “I had an excellent education experience. I really enjoyed dental hygiene. I was able to combine my interest in special education during my graduate work, and I also got to do a little teaching and I really liked that. I think it was a combination of role models, mentors, enjoying the profession and being very interested in teaching and having those opportunities.”

Kornegay has held various positions during her time at Virginia Western Community College.

From June 2008 through January 2009, as the interim vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, Kornegay had oversight of all academic programs on campus and the student services area, which includes admissions, records and counseling.

In her previous position as dean of Natural Science, Mathematics and Health Technology, she oversaw all restricted admissions health programs including dental hygiene, nursing, radiography, radiation oncology and practical nursing. She also managed the science and math departments, in addition to supervising about 60 full-time and adjunct faculty.

Currently, in her role as dean for Institutional Effectiveness, which began in May 2009, she is responsible for college-wide assessment and compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation requirements.

Before becoming dean and interim vice president for the college, Kornegay was an associate professor and program head of the dental hygiene program.

“As the head of the dental hygiene program, you’re very focused on your own discipline,” she said, explaining the difference between the positions. “As a dean, you have both issues with curriculum and degree programs across a broad spectrum of disciplines, in addition to dealing with a broader range of students’ issues and a very different student population.”

The school has an enrollment of about 13,000 students a year and is one of the five largest community colleges in Virginia.

Kornegay said that she only practiced in private practice for a year and then completed specialty practice in grad school. After that, she held positions at East Tennessee State University as an instructor of dental hygiene and at West Virginia Institute of Technology as the chair of the dental hygiene program.

Currently, she is involved with the Academic and Student Affairs Council and the Council of Deans and Directors in the Virginia Community College system. In addition, Kornegay is co-coordinator of the assistive advising project for students in development mathematics and English, and a member of ADHA.

“I always felt like I had an excellent education, and I’ve always enjoyed interaction in my professional association at the state and national levels,” she said. “My dental hygiene education has been a wonderful foundation for what I’m doing now.”

She said that some of her future goals include expanding some of the school’s curricular offerings to link with four-year institutions; she also hopes to partake in ongoing retention and success efforts.

Kornegay said the best thing about her career is that she gets to do something different every day.

“I’m never bored,” she said. “There are days that are very stressful, but one of the things that I think is a blessing is that I work with wonderful people who are very dedicated to the mission of the college. Plus, I think when you see the impact on students, it reminds you of why you are in education to begin with. Seeing those graduates walk across that stage and receive their degrees, you just know that their lives are going to be better, and I think you have to keep that at the forefront of your mind.”

Anne Kornegay, RDH, MS, may be reached at akornegay@virginiawestern.edu.

This edition of Working was prepared by Frances Moffett.