Education
- Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2015
- Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2013
- Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007
Areas of Expertise
- Periodontal instrumentation
- Biofilm management
- Ergonomics
- Communication
- Effective feedback
- Clinical/didactic teaching strategies
Biosketch
Jennifer Harmon is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontology, Endodontics, and Dental Hygiene at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry. As a triple Tar Heel, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science, Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, and Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education, all from UNC-Chapel Hill.
In her current role, Jennifer teaches both undergraduate and graduate dental hygiene students, as well as those in the pre-doctoral curricula. Her teaching focuses on clinical excellence and psychomotor skill development. Jennifer has a distinguished record of service, having served as President of the North Carolina Dental Hygienists’ Association and the Supreme Chapter of Sigma Phi Alpha. She remains an active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the American Dental Education Association.
Recognized with numerous faculty appreciation awards, Jennifer was recently named an Honorary Professor for Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. She has published in several peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Dental Education and Journal of Dental Hygiene. She is passionate about sharing her expertise and loves traveling with Dental Hygiene Academy. As a highly sought-after speaker, Jennifer presents nationally and internationally on ergonomics, periodontal instrumentation, communication, and teaching strategies.
Publications
Book Chapter
- Wang J, Harmon JB, Brame JL, Nesbit S. The Maintenance Phase of Care. In: Nesbit S, Stefanac S. Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Dentistry. 4th edition. Elsevier. 2023. (44 pages)
Refereed papers/journal articles
Harmon JB, Sanders AE, Wilder RS, Essick GK, Slade GD, Hartung JE, Nackley AG. Circulating Omentin-1 and Chronic Painful Temporomandibular Disorders. J Oral Facial Pain Headache. Summer 2016;30(3):203-9. doi: 10.11607/ofph.1608. PubMed PMID: 27472522; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4998962.
Beck JA, Kornegay EC, Phillips C, Harmon JB. Assessing students’ mental health in two American dental hygiene programs. Int J Dent Hyg. 2024;22(1):236-243.
Kornegay EC, Harmon JB, Brame JL. Transition to a competency-informed dental hygiene clinical evaluation system. J Dent Hyg. 2021;95:56-63.
Faust AM, Ahmed SN, Johnston LB, Harmon JB. Teaching methodologies for improving dental students’ implementation of ergonomic operator and patient positioning. J Dent Educ. 2021 Mar;85(3):370-378. doi: 10.1002/jdd.12438. Epub 2020 Sep 30. PMID: 33000478.
Harmon JB, Roberts MW. Are Plaque-Disclosing Agents Useful Educational Tools? Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. 2019;17(10):46.
Harmon JB, Brame JL. Air Polishing for Today’s Dental Hygienist. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. 2018;16(10):35-38.