Taking on new challenges
Dr. Shaneka Marks ’10 participated in the school’s Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Programs (SPEP) as a high school student and throughout her undergraduate studies. The experience and connections she made set her up for success, both as a dental student and later in her practice. Now she’s returned to campus, this time as SPEP program administrator.
Marks was first introduced to dentistry as a student at Townview High School in Dallas. She joined a pre-dental cluster at the school led by Dr. Ernestine Lacy, where students were trained as dental assistants. She said the cluster served as an in-school pediatric clinic, where they assisted Lacy in performing cleanings and basic procedures on students from the elementary school next door.
Lacy became a mentor to Marks, and in turn, Marks began volunteering in the SPEP program as a high school junior. It was the beginning of a long relationship with Texas A&M School of Dentistry.
Marks would go on to enroll in SPEP between her junior and senior years of high school, and throughout her undergraduate years at Baylor University. She completed the dental school’s Post-Baccalaureate Program in 2005, before enrolling as a D1 and graduating with her DDS in 2010. Her career to-date has included working as an associate dentist and owning her own practice. In her new role as SPEP program administrator, Marks will also teach comprehensive dentistry to D1 students.
“The Office of Student Development has welcomed me into their family,” she said. “Everyone has been kind and very helpful as I learn my new role. Dr. Kerin Burdette [head of student development] leads with compassion and is a joy to work with.”
Marks will continue the SPEP mission, providing students training in the basics of dentistry, college and dental school prep, and guidance on pursuing various oral health care careers. Her favorite part of the job is helping kids in situations similar to her own growing up, and creating new opportunities for them. Marks explained that some professions, like dentistry, seem unobtainable to young people if no one from their family or community traditionally pursues those career paths. Thanks to SPEP, she said, they discover the world is full of possibilities, more than they originally imagined.
“The summer programs really give opportunities to kids who probably wouldn’t have exposure to the dental field,” Marks said. “They give an opportunity for everyone to participate. It’s not just ‘Oh, my dad is a dentist.’ Everyone can participate and get a feel for dentistry.”
She said although the coursework was rigorous, it prepared her for dental school and “leveled the playing field” among her classmates in their D1 year.
“We had classmates who were third-generation dentists, and we had classmates who this was their first introduction to academia, so it leveled things out for all of us,” she said. “It gave us confidence to succeed and eased us in, rather than drinking through a fire hose as soon as we got in.”
Marks credits her professional success to SPEP and the mentorship of Dr. Lacy.
“Without having her as a contact and the summer programs, I probably would have given up,” she said.
Lacy said it’s a pleasure to have Marks back on campus as a teacher. She has long known her to be a caring and compassionate person, and she said it was a natural fit for Marks to take on a leadership role in programs that have meant so much to her.
“I found her from the very beginning to be someone in whom I saw a caring spirit, someone I knew could be a good dentist,” Lacy said. “It’s been an honor to watch her grow. I’m very pleased that she’s back here helping offer opportunities like she had to others.”