Meet Our Faculty
Experienced, Skilled, and Supportive Instruction
Dental Assisting faculty at COCC are compassionate leaders in their field and in their communities. They provide students with industry insights, hands-on learning opportunities, and knowledgeable advising. View the Allied Health Directory for a full listing of faculty and staff.
Faculty Profiles
Leslie Houston
Assistant Professor II
Email: lhouston@cocc.edu
Leslie approaches her chosen career with compassion and empathy. "I became interested in the field when a dental assistant helped me overcome my dental anxiety," she explains. "I experienced firsthand the difference a dental assistant can make."
As a nontraditional student and mother of three children, Leslie decided to take the leap and apply to COCC's Dental Assisting program. "It was a career where I could help others and contribute financially to my young family."
After graduation, Leslie worked as a dental assistant but was soon asked to return to COCC as a lab assistant. She continued her education and completed her Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree at COCC and earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in professional technical education and instructional design at South Seattle College.
Teaching a full array of Dental Assisting classes, Leslie enjoys helping students reach their goals and realize their potential. "The absolute highlight is watching a student secure employment in a dental practice where they are an essential member of the dental team," she shares. "We know we've succeeded when students tell us that they love their career."
Lynn Murray
Professor of Dental Assisting
Program Director
Email: lmurray@cocc.edu
Lynn's love for dental assisting began over 40 years ago with her first job in the field. Since that time, she has worked diligently on improving her skills, collected an impressive array of certifications, and helped countless students become professionals in the occupation she has found so rewarding.
Lynn earned a bachelor's degree in health studies from Pennsylvania College of Technology and a master's degree in education from Concordia University in Portland. She worked in general dentistry and as an oral surgery assistant. Lynn holds her Oregon Expanded Functions Dental Assisting certification, Certified Dental Assisting certification, and Restorative Functions certification which enables her to place fillings. She is a master in the American Dental Assistants Association and an executive board member of the Oregon Dental Assistants Association. While Lynn is a leader in the field, her real joy has been found in the classroom and mentoring students. "It is so rewarding watching students develop into professional dental assistants."
In addition to serving as the Dental Assisting program director, Lynn manages the low-cost Community Dental Clinic on the COCC Bend campus that provides dental services to low-income patients.