A New Chapter for a Trailblazer
After more than four decades of leadership, scholarship, and mentorship, Marion Manski, MS, RDH, is retiring from Virginia Commonwealth University as LaTesha McLee, MSDH, RDH, steps into the next era of the program’s leadership.
After more than 43 years of service to the dental hygiene profession, Marion Manski, MS, RDH, is retiring as director of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Dental Hygiene Program, leaving behind a remarkable record of leadership, innovation, and mentorship.
A respected educator, national leader, member of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene‘s Editorial Advisory Board, and longtime contributor to the publication, Manski has spent her career advancing dental hygiene education while inspiring generations of students and colleagues.
Since joining VCU in 2022, she has guided one of Virginia’s premier dental hygiene programs through a period of significant growth and achievement. During her tenure, the program expanded opportunities for interprofessional education, strengthened curriculum assessment processes, and further enhanced its reputation for academic excellence. Among the accomplishments she considers most impactful are the establishment of the Division of Dental Hygiene’s Curriculum Management Committee and the expansion of student participation in community-based interprofessional care through VCU’s Health Hub initiatives.
Manski’s influence extends well beyond VCU. Prior to joining the university, she served as director of the Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport and previously led the Dental Hygiene Program at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. Throughout her career, she has held numerous leadership positions within the American Dental Education Association and has been recognized with many of the profession’s highest honors, including the 2025 American Dental Hygienists’ Association Ann Battrell Visionary Legacy Award.
While her accomplishments are impressive, colleagues often point to her passion for mentoring future dental hygienists as her greatest contribution. Her commitment to developing confident, compassionate clinicians has helped shape countless careers and elevate the profession as a whole.
As Manski begins retirement, VCU has appointed LaTesha McLee, MSDH, RDH, as interim director of the Division of Dental Hygiene. McLee, who has served on the VCU faculty since 2019, is also a contributor to Dimensions of Dental Hygiene and is widely recognized for her dedication to education, clinical excellence, and professional leadership. Click here to read more.
