Jeanne Craig Sinkford graduated from Howard University College of Dentistry in 1958 and there began a career in academic dentistry as a clinical instructor. Six years later, armed with specialty training in prosthodontics and a master's degree and PhD in physiology from Northwestern University, Dr Sinkford returned to Howard expecting to develop a research program and continue her clinical teaching. Instead, she was immediately made head of the Department of Prosthodontics and in 11 more years became Howard's dean of dentistry. After 16 years as dean, Dr Sinkford retired and took a position at the American Dental Education Association charged with developing and implementing policy on issues involving gender and minorities in dentistry. In addition to her reputation for her principled approach to getting things done, Dr Sinkford is widely recognized for her dedicated sincerity, her warmth, her concern for others, and her reasoned reasonableness.