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.
Full-time, tenure-track faculty members/advisers are featured below. Most COCC academic programs include a roster of adjunct and part-time instructors who add diverse expertise and personal experience to the learning environment.
View the Dental Assisting Directory for a full listing of faculty and staff.
Full-time Faculty Profiles
Leslie Houston
Program Director and Professor, Dental Assisting
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."
Jenna Johnson, B.S., CDA, EFDA, EFODA
Assistant Professor I, Dental Assisting
Email: jjohnson47@cocc.edu
Jenna brings enthusiasm for teaching and a genuine commitment to student success, creating a supportive and approachable learning environment. She began her teaching career at Chemeketa Community College before joining Central Oregon Community College in the Fall of 2015.
Jenna's career in dentistry started in 2007 when she graduated from Portland Community College's Dental Assisting Program and, after working in the field, returned to school to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Western Oregon University in 2013.
Drawing on years of hands-on experience mainly focused in pediatric and orthodontic dental settings, Jenna is passionate about supporting students as they build confidence and develop practical skills. Her teaching emphasizes real-world application, professionalism, and fostering a positive, engaging learning environment that prepares students for success in the dental field.
Part-time Faculty Profiles
Jamasa Graham, RDH, CDA, EFDA
Part-time Dental Assisting Faculty
Email: jgraham12@cocc.edu
Jamasa Graham is an instructor in the Dental Assisting Program at COCC and a registered dental hygienist in Oregon. She earned her Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from Oregon Institute of Technology in 2012 and completed her Bachelor of Science degree later that same year.
With over twelve years of experience in private practice, Jamasa brings strong clinical knowledge and a passion for mentoring future dental professionals. She holds credentials as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), and Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA), along with restorative and local anesthetic endorsements and a nitrous oxide permit.
Jamasa completed her prerequisite coursework at COCC before continuing her dental hygiene education through OIT in La Grande, Oregon. A Bend native, she is proud to give back to the community that supported her educational journey by helping prepare the next generation of dental assistants.