Jeanne Sinkford

Jeanne Craig Sinkford (January 30, 1933 – October 1, 2025) was an American dentist and academic administrator. She was the first female dean of an American dental school. She is a senior scholar in residence at the American Dental Education Association and a professor and dean emeritus at the dental school of Howard University.

Sinkford died on October 1, 2025, at the age of 92.

Growing Up Sinkford was born on Capital Hill in the nation's capital. Her parents Richard Edward and Geneva Jefferson Craig, were both native Marylanders and federal government employees. Sinkford had a close relationship with her father, who taught her practical skills such as fishing, painting, wiring circuits, building furniture, interpreting the news, and saving money. Her parents valued education and ensured all their children graduated from college.

Sinkford attended both public and private schools, including a public elementary school, a Catholic middle school, and Dunbar High School, a college preparatory school for "colored" students in the District of Columbia. Dunbar employed teachers with master's degrees who mentored students and promoted academic achievement. Sinkford's first leadership role was as captain of the Dunbar Girl Cadet Corps, where she learned military protocol, ethics, and drill exercises. Winning the citywide competition was a significant honor for both the school and the girls in Company D.

Sinkford met her husband Stanley at Howard University. They had three children, two daughters and one son. had a part-time dental practice, and earned a Ph.D. in physiology at Northwestern University. This made her the first female prosthodontist with a PhD degree. She was the first black named to the National Advisory Dental Council; and was the first woman to be named as Associate Dean in dentistry.

Later, she chaired the prosthodontics department at Howard, and she completed a residency in pediatric dentistry in 1974–1975. On July 1, 1975, Sinkford became the first female dean of an American dental school in the United States, and possibly in the world when she was appointed the dean of Howard University, School of Dentistry. Sinkford served as dean for 16 years until 1991. She has been a member of the faculty for 33 years.

Sinkford then became associate executive director of the American Dental Education Association. She established its Center for Equity and Diversity in 1998, and directed it for 17 years.

In 2015, Sinkford received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Dental Association. She is also a past recipient of the Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She is a member of the Institute of Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists.

"I have been called a Black pioneer," "Renaissance woman," and a modern Candace" because I dedicated my life to the cause of overcoming social, cultural, and educational inequities in our society by forceful leadership and in constant support of equal opportunities and civil liberty. As an octogenarian and scholar, I continue to learn, lead, and serve."

Leadership When Sinkford returned to Howard in 1964, she became the first woman in the United States to chair a prosthodontics department, leading the college's largest department. Dean Russell A. Dixon (1898-1974) appointed her based on her strong qualifications following the previous chair's retirement. This appointment represented a significant shift and an opportunity for visionary leadership. Although younger than many department members who had taught her, she implemented collaborative leadership, introduced a faculty evaluation program linking merit pay to performance, and led the adoption of collaborative teaching and total-patient care concepts.

The world was changing in 1975, a year celebrated as International Women's Year, yet only 12 percent of dentists were women. Sinkford turned down offers from Stony Brook University and the University of Washington, choosing instead to lead Howard, a decision that shaped both her life and her family's/ She saw that Howard needed her vision most. Under her leadership, the college launched innovative programs in academic and community partnerships, dental auxiliary utilization, care for chronically ill and elderly patients, infection control, implant research, faculty development, and efforts to recruit and support underrepresented minorities. By the time Sinkford retired, the dental college's academic progra had earned full accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation.