Lacy says farewell to full-time status at Texas A&M College of Dentistry after more than 30 years
Dr. Ernestine Lacy, professor and associate dean for student affairs at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, has the heart of a teacher. In fact, she spent 17 years as a high school math and science teacher, first in the Birmingham Public School District in Alabama, where she grew up, and then at Fort Worth Independent School District’s O.D. Wyatt High School and in Buffalo Independent School District.
However, after undergoing extensive dental work, Lacy grew intrigued by dentistry and earned her dental degree in 1994 from A&M Dentistry, then known as Baylor College of Dentistry, and soon after collected a certificate in advanced education in general dentistry. Lacy was wooed back to academia and began teaching at her alma mater as an assistant professor in restorative sciences.
“What drew me to health professions is the ability to help somebody on a personal level and the connection with that I’m doing something meaningful in a healthcare sense for this person …,” said Lacy, who also worked in private practice at times. “It’s being a contributor to the well-being of somebody else.”
She stayed at A&M Dentistry and eventually moved into several administrative roles. But she will say goodbye to full-time dentistry and education when she officially retires May 31.
Her first administrative role was as director of academic programs. Lacy then assumed responsibility as director of student services before moving on to her current position. In addition, she’s been principal investigator of the Center of Excellence for many years, overseeing grant funding that supports A&M Dentistry’s Bridge to Dentistry pipeline programs, including programs for students from elementary through post-college. She plans to continue COE grant work for the college on a part-time basis.
Lacy was named to A&M Dentistry’s Hall of Fame last year.
Dr. Lily T. García, dean of A&M Dentistry, praised Lacy’s commitment to student success, academic excellence and expanding access to dentistry.
“Her visionary leadership has created transformative opportunities for so many aspiring dental professionals,” García said.
For a time that included treating patients at the High School for Health Professions at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, a Dallas Independent School District high school that prepares students for health professions. She worked with high school students training to become dental assistants. One of those students, 2017 graduate Britni “Bri” Duffie, graduates May 22 from A&M Dentistry and becomes a dentist.
“Something I learned from Dr. Lacy during my time assisting at Townview was that dentistry goes far beyond the procedure you are doing,” Duffie said. “It’s about centering your patient, the human being who is in the chair. That’s something difficult to teach, but I’m grateful I got to see it modeled in the work she does.”
Duffie said Lacy communicated with the children in the clinic to ease their anxiety and build their trust. She tailored her approach to a child’s needs and was intentional and meticulous in how she educated students.
Drs. Britni “Bri” Duffie and Ernestine Lacy
The student has become an educator. Duffie and fellow dental graduate Dawn Miller McElroy recently took the leadership reins of A&M Dentistry’s Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Programs under the Bridge to Dentistry umbrella. Duffie and McElroy are graduates of the SPEP programs, which help select high schoolers through post-college students improve their chances for dental college admission and beyond.
Dr. Alicia Spence, clinical assistant professor in comprehensive dentistry and A&M Dentistry’s director of recruitment and admissions, also attended SPEP programs before graduating from the dental college in 2012. Lacy served as a mentor and later hired Spence to work in the Office of Student Development and run the SPEP programs. Spence was named to her current role in 2025.
“I am successful because of Dr. Lacy,” she said.
Lacy, who plans to spend her retirement traveling more with her husband, Glen, and visiting her mother in Alabama, shared some wisdom for students.
“Follow your heart,” Lacy said. “Be sure you do your part by finding out as much about that profession as possible – do the observations, do the volunteering and do what’s required and what you need to do to be competitive…Does it fit you, and do you fit that profession? Do all you need to do to know in your heart of hearts that’s your professional calling.”