Dental Assisting Department

Sue Cowan Dental Assisting Department A.A., College of Alameda; B.A., St. Mary's College, Moraga

Ms. Cowan has been teaching at CCSF since 1996.

Her educational goal is to share her many years of professional dental assisting experience with others in order to help them gain employment skills that will serve them well and to develop pride in their chosen professional career.

She is a reviewer for the Dental Assisting textbook "Modern Dental Assisting", 7th edition, a Judge for Dental Assisting Competitions and a Mouthguard Program participant (Alameda City Dental Group).

Ms. Cowan is a member of the American Dental Assistant Association and the California Association of Dental Assisting Teachers.

In her leisure time, Ms. Cowan enjoys walking, bicycling, cooking and gardening.

Geraldine A Joseph Dental Assisting Department BVE, San Francisco State University

Ms. Joseph has been teaching at CCSF since 1995.

Her educational philosophy is that all students deserve the best education attainable and that not all students learn the same way.

She is a member of ADAA and ADA.

In her leisure time, Ms. Joseph enjoys scuba diving, photography, skiing and tennis.

Sandra Kolsom Dental Assisting Department A.A., San Jose City College

Biography is unavailable at this time.

Anna Nelson Chair, Dental Assisting Department A.S., City College of San Francisco; B.S., M.A., San Francisco State University

Ms. Nelson has been teaching at CCSF since 1985

As a second generation native San Franciscan, Anna Nelson attended the city's public schools and graduated from the CCSF Dental Assisting Program in 1971. Anna received her Bachelors of Science Degree from SFSU in Health Education, her California Life-Time Teaching Credential from UC Berkeley and her Master of Arts in Educational Technology from SFSU. Dental Assisting positions held by Ms. Nelson included chairside, receptionist and office manager. Besides experience in general dentistry, her experience also includes the dental specialties of orthodontics, endodontic, oral surgery and periodontics. Ms. Nelson started her career as a dental assisting educator in 1976 at the College of the Redwoods in Eureka and returned to CCSF in 1985, becoming the Director of the Dental Assisting Program.

As a student in CCSF Dental Assisting Program, Anna began her membership and active participation in her professional organizations. Ms. Nelson has held various offices on local, state and national levels and was President of the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) in 2000-2001. In addition, Anna has served as Treasurer of the California Association of Dental Assisting Teachers for four years. Currently, Ms. Nelson is Chair of the California Dental Association's Student Recognition Committee and Editorial Director of the ADAA JOURNAL.

Tiffany H Ren Dental Assisting Department B.A., University of California, Berkeley

Professor Ren has been teaching at CCSF since 2003.

She came to live in San Francisco when she moved here from China. With English being her second language, she fully understands the struggles and frustrations that a similar person would go through. She can easily relate to people as she has learned to be patient, tolerant and understanding. As an enthusiastic instructor, Professor Ren believes that she can contribute and further promote the CCSF Dental Assisting Program.

In her leisure time, Professor Ren enjoys reading, cooking, jogging and music.