Faculty and Staff

Excelling in Teaching, Training & Service

The Department of Dental Hygiene employs some of the best faculty members and Clinical Supervisors in the State of Tennessee. All are full-time, and our faculty members and Clinical Supervisors hold Bachelor's and/or Master's Degree. All faculty members and clinical supervisors excel in teaching, training, and service.

Interim Department Chair

Dr. Illeana Brandt, BSDH, RDH, MSHCLI

Is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene. Born and raised in San Pedro Sula, Honduras and fully bilingual in Spanish and English. Well rounded in the dental field; grew up in a family of dental technicians that have owned a dental laboratory for over half a century in Honduras and in the United States, completed a certified Red Cross Dental Assistant program for civilians thru the United States Air Force in 2002. Professor Brandt moved to the United States in 1999 and had the opportunity to live in Germany from 2000-2002. Graduated from Tennessee State University with an AAS in Dental Hygiene in 2007 and with a BS in Dental Hygiene in 2008. Her latest educational endeavor includes receiving a Master’s in Healthcare Leadership and Innovation from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2020. She followed up this degree with her Ph.D in Healthcare Leadership and Innovation from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2024.

Professor Brandt has been with the Department of Dental Hygiene since 2017 where she served as a clinic instructor/supervisor teaching Clinical Dental Hygiene (I-IV). She became a faculty member in 2021 and currently teaches Dental Hygiene Theory (III & IV) as well as Clinical Dental Hygiene (III & IV). She has active licenses in the state of TN and FL. She has practiced dental hygiene in corporate and private practice. Aside from general dental hygiene practice, has experience in working specifically with pediatric and geriatric populations. She encourages the Spanish community to seek a degree in dental hygiene as the Hispanic communities are in dire need of Spanish speaking clinicians. Also, advises current students to consider learning Spanish or another second language to better equip themselves for the practicing world in such a diverse society.

Contact me: icrite@tnstate.edu

Advisement: By Appointment Only

All advisement with Tenure and Tenure-track faculty must be initiated by contacting Ms. Diya Ghosh, Senior Office Assistant dghosh@tnstate.edu

Tenure and Tenure-track Faculty Advisors

Professor Janice Williams, BSDH, MS

Is an Associate Professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene where she's involved in various projects. One includes a Geriatric Education Grant, which allows her to conduct educational presentations to the medical and dental community regarding oral health for the elderly. She teaches Dental Hygiene Theory (III & IV), Clinical Dental Hygiene (III & IV), to second-year AAS students, and Dental Hygiene Externship and Teaching Practicum to BS Degree Completion students.
Professor Williams is a member of her professional organization, the American Dental Hygienists' Association, and is a Past Vice-President of the Nashville Area Dental Hygiene Society.

Contact me: jwilliams128@tnstate.edu

Advisement: By Appointment Only

battiste headshot 2021

Professor Gwendolyn Battiste, RDH, BS, MPH

Professor Battiste is a graduate of Tennessee State University/Meharry Medical College, receiving her AAS in Dental Hygiene in 1999 and BS in 2000. She also received her Master in Public Health in 2008 from Walden University with a concentration in Community Health Education. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene where she teaches Community Dental Health, and Clinical Dental Hygiene (I-IV).

Professor Battiste is a current member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Nashville Area Dental Hygiene Society, 5^th District Trustee for Tennessee Dental Hygiene Association, 2012-2013 Past-President for the Baton Rouge Dental Hygienists’ Association, American Public Health Association, and Tennessee Public Health Association.

Contact me: gkeeton@tnstate.edu

Advisement: By Appointment Only

Professor Toya Stoudemire, RDH, BSDH, MHA

Professor Stoudemire is a 1995 graduate of Tennessee State University/Meharry Medical College, where she received her AAS degree in 2005 and her BS in Dental Hygiene in 2006. In 2022, she received her Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Austin Peay State University. Professor Stoudemire is currently enrolled at Tennessee State University in the Educational Leadership doctoral program. She has been with the Department of Dental Hygiene since 2021 where she served as a clinical instructor/supervisor teaching Clinical Dental Hygiene. She became a faculty member in 2024 and currently teaches Periodontology as well as Clinical Dental Hygiene.

She is a current member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and serves as the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association, (SADHA) advisor for the organization at Tennessee State University. She also likes to stay involved in community outreach.

Contact me: tstoudem@tnstate.edu

Advisement: By Appointment Only.

Professor Gary-Lee A. Lewis, BS, RDH, M.Ed

A native of London, England, moved to the United States in 1984. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (Pre-Dentistry) from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 1992. Attended Howard University, School of Dentistry (1992-1994). Prof. Lewis received his AAS degree in Dental Hygiene and Certificate in Allied Health Dental Hygiene from Tennessee State University/Meharry Medical College dual program in 2000. He currently holds a Master's Degree in Education with a concentration in Educational Technology from Tennessee State University.
He became a faculty member with Tennessee State University, Department of Dental Hygiene in September of 2000, and currently teaches Clinical Dental Hygiene, Radiology, Head & Neck Anatomy, and Orofacial Anatomy to first and second-year dental hygiene students. He is a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association. He has served in the capacity of Public Relations Chairman for the Tennessee Academy of Dental Hygiene, (TADH); 5th District Trustee for Tennessee Dental Hygiene Association, (TDHA), Past-President for the Nashville Area Dental Hygiene Society, (NADHS) and he has had the distinct pleasure of serving as Dental Hygiene, Department Chair (11-years).

Contact me: galewis@tnstate.edu

Advisement: By Appointment Only