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Employee Spotlight: Ambra McMillian - on dental hygiene and giving back to students
by Alison Miller |
Ambra McMillian serves as an Assistant Professor of Dental Hygiene in the School of Therapeutic and Therapeutic Sciences. For her, the best part of her job is not only getting to do work that she loves, but also witnessing her students’ growth as they learn, develop, and discover their potential.
Name: Ambra McMillian
Title: Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) and Assistant Professor of Dental Hygiene
Unit: School of Preventive and Therapeutic Sciences
Hometown: Galax, Virginia
How long have you worked at UAA/in this position?:
Since August 2025. Previously, I was an adjunct faculty member from August 2024 to
May 2025.
Tell us about your job. What do you do?:
I get the opportunity to assist the students and watch them grow into the clinicians
we are training them to be. It's quite amazing!
What do you love the most about your work?:
The students are the reason I am here, and I’m truly grateful to be a part of their
professional journey. They are the best part!
How do you contribute to student success?:
I try to help students build confidence in their abilities while emphasizing the importance
of continuous learning and improvement.
What is the most common question you receive at work?:
“Can I get a scale check?”
What was your personal and/or professional journey that led you to working at UAA?:
I’ve always known that academia was in my future. No matter the obstacles, I’ve remained
determined, embracing life’s challenges as they come. As a dental hygienist, I’ve
worked hard to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to one day share my passion
for dental hygiene with others.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment while working here at UAA?:
My greatest accomplishment at UAA has been seeing the students grow, both personally
and professionally.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?:
I wanted to be a dental hygienist like my aunt Kelly.
What advice would you give to youth interested in pursuing a career in your field?:
Do it! Becoming a dental hygienist has been the most rewarding career I could have
ever asked for. Each stage of my journey—from dental assisting to becoming a professor—has
been incredibly fulfilling. It’s a career that not only allows me to make a real impact
on people’s lives but also continually challenges and inspires me.
What are your hobbies?:
I love traveling, knitting, gardening (I DO NOT have a green thumb), and being with
my family and friends.
Who inspired or continues to inspire you and why?:
Carri Shamburger. It's like she has got it all figured out! She makes being a program
director look so easy, even though I know it isn't.
What has been your biggest challenge, personal or professional, and how did you overcome
it?:
My biggest challenge has been balancing my personal and professional life while continuously
advancing in my career.
What is your favorite quote? Why?:
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
I would not be where I am today without our heavenly father.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.:
One of my favorite sounds is rain hitting a tin roof. I grew up in my great-granny's
house, which was more than a century old and had a tin roof. There's nothing like
falling asleep to that sound!
Is there anything else you would like to share?:
I am just happy to be here!
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