Faculty Profiles

Josette Beach, RDH, MS
Josette BeachThank you for visiting the PCC Dental Program website. I am the Director of the three dental programs at Portland Community College. I graduated from the Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene programs and can testify to the excellent quality of instruction you will receive in the programs. I have practiced as a dental hygienist for 30 years and have taught in the PCC DH program for over 25 years. For the last four years I have enjoyed working in the director’s position. Special highlights in my career are meeting the newly accepted students as they enter the program and congratulating them upon graduation and entry into the workforce!
Arleen Shannon
Arleen ShannonArleen has worked in the PCC Dental Department for 19 years. She graduated from Oakland City College in California with her Dental Assisting Certificate. Arleen is a wonderful friend to all of our students!
Dr. Robert Jones
Robert JonesDr. Jones has practiced dentistry for 36 years and has been a Dental Assisting Clinical Instructor at PCC for 8 years. Previously, he has been a clinical instructor at OHSU and Russell Street Clinic, and he still maintains a general practice located in Gresham, Oregon.
Bonnie Marshall, CDA, EFDA, EFODA, AAS, MADAA
Bonnie MarshallBonnie was a graduate of Portland Community College, Dental Assisting Program, class of 1986. After working at OHSU, Kaiser and Apollo College Bonnie returned to Portland Community College in 1989 where she has been teaching for over twenty years. Bonnie teaches Radiology, Integrated Basic Sciences, Expanded Duties and Law & Ethics. “It is an honor to work in an educational environment where team work, student success and personal pride is always number one.”
Ginny Jorgensen, CDA, EFDA, EFODA, AAS
Ginny Jorgensen"My name is Ginny Jorgensen. I am one of your three full-time dental assisting instructors at Portland Community College. I teach Clinical Procedures courses all three terms of the program. In addition, I teach Expanded Duties courses winter and spring terms. I began my career as a dental assistant in 1972 when I was trained on the job to be an orthodontic lab assistant. I completed courses at night and began my career as a dental assistant in an orthodontic office in 1974. I worked as an orthodontic assistant for a total of 15 years and as a general assistant for 5 years. I went back to college to obtain my Associate degree in Professional Technical Education to become qualified to teach dental assisting. I worked as a trainer at Kaiser Permanente Dental Care Program for 5 years prior to coming to PCC. Teaching has definitely become my passion. I enjoy working with students and dental employees in the community. There are so many different exciting career paths you can follow in the profession of dental assisting. The profession is constantly growing and changing and needs trained professionals to fill the many job opportunities available."
LeeAnn Redifer, CDA, EFDA, COMSA, AAS
LeeAnn Redifer "I have been a Dental Assistant since 1980. I have worked in both private practice and group practice dental offices. Next to teaching, my favorite part of my dental career was spent as an Oral Surgery Assistant. I have been teaching Dental Assisting since 1997, beginning in the PCC Dental Clinic with Ginny Jorgensen as a part-time clinical instructor along with teaching Office Procedures. In 2003 I became a full time instructor teaching Dental Materials and Office Procedures. I look forward to getting to know all of you this year."
Cindy Phillips, CDA, EFDA, AAS
Cindy PhillipsI am a part time clinical instructor in the Dental Assisting Program at Portland Community College. I have been an instructor at PCC for 5 years. I teach in the clinic for all three terms. In the Spring, I also help teach Expanded Duties for Orthodontic Assisting. I have been a general chairside dental assistant since 1980. I continue to work as part time dental assistant in a general dental practice in Sherwood. I really enjoy the opportunity to teach in the dental assisting program and share my dental experiences with our students.
Pam Rutherford, CDA, EFDA, EFODA
Pam RutherfordUpon graduation, 1991, from the Dental Assisting program at Portland Community College I worked in private practice for 3 years. I was honored to then continue my dental career by expecting a position at Neighborhood Health Clinic as the dental manager where I was employed for 12 years. When the program was unable to continue I was asked to return to Portland Community College as the Radiology dental lab assistant.