Bulletin of Dental Education Article

Days after Texas A&M University College of Dentistry (Texas A&M Dentistry) says goodbye and good luck to its latest class of graduates, it will do the same to two longtime, beloved faculty members. Amp Miller III, D.D.S., and Ernestine S. Lacy, D.D.S., M.A., who have a combined 85 years of teaching and administrative experience at their alma mater, will retire May 31. 

Amp Miller III, D.D.S., (left) and Ernestine S. Lacy, D.D.S., M.A., (right) are set to retire from Texas A&M University College of Dentistry on May 31.

Dr. Miller earned his dental degree in 1973 from Texas A&M Dentistry, which was then Baylor College of Dentistry, and has taught or served on the college administration ever since—most of that time while also working in private practice as a prosthodontist. He will officially retire on his 79th birthday. 

“He’s taught thousands of dental students, including me,” said Lily T. Garcia, D.D.S., M.S., FACP, Dean of Texas A&M Dentistry and a prosthodontist. “The dental college has served the North Texas community for 120 years, and Dr. Miller has been an important part of that for nearly half the time. His contributions to dentistry are immense.” 

Dr. Miller, now Professor and Director of Comprehensive Dentistry, spends most of his time instructing students in the simulation laboratory. However, as either a part-time or full-time instructor, he’s taught a range of courses, from preclinical to graduate prosthodontics, and his academic career includes periods serving as interim assistant department head of comprehensive dentistry, interim chair and then chair of restorative dentistry, director of curriculum and interim associate dean for clinical affairs. 

Dr. Miller talking to second-year dental students in the simulation lab with the assistance of then second-year student Spencer Moon to demonstrate.

“I became interested in teaching during college, and after dental school, I made friends with many of the faculty and enjoyed the ‘teaching discussions’ with them,” said Dr. Miller.  

Once retired, he and his wife, Barbara, an Associate Professor Emerita of Texas A&M Dentistry, retired Assistant Dean of Recruitment and Admissions and an alumna, will finish renovations on their home and spend time with grandchildren in Virginia. 

Dr. Miller will miss the students, and they will miss him. He won Teacher of the Year in 1992, 2005, 2011, 2018 and 2025. 

“Students continue to have inquiring minds and need to develop knowledge and skills,” he said.  

Dr. Lacy, now Professor and Associate Dean for Student Affairs, first considered pursuing a career in medicine before life led her to become a high school math and science teacher for 17 years. However, after undergoing extensive dental work, she decided to pursue dentistry and earned her D.D.S. from the then Baylor College of Dentistry in 1994 and later a certificate in advanced education in general dentistry.   

She soon began instructing dental students in the clinic as an assistant professor in the restorative dentistry department. Dr. Lacy also worked with high school students training to become dental assistants.  

Dr. Lacy is pictured speaking to a group of incoming dental and dental hygiene students during a Texas A&M Dentistry orientation.

“I haven’t second-guessed it at all,” she said. “I don’t wish one time I had gone into medicine instead of dentistry. It was the professional calling for me.” 

Dr. Lacy said she likes being a contributor to someone else’s well-being. 

Her first administrative role was as director of academic programs. Dr. Lacy then assumed responsibility as director of student services before moving on to her current position. In addition, she’s served as principal investigator of the Center of Excellence for many years, overseeing grant funding that supports Texas A&M Dentistry’s Bridge to Dentistry pipeline programs. 

“Dr. Lacy’s career really speaks to her deep commitment to student success, academic excellence, and expanding access to dentistry,” said Dean García. “Her visionary leadership has created transformative opportunities for so many aspiring dental professionals.” 

Dr. Lacy plans to spend more time traveling with her husband, Glen, and visiting her mother in Alabama.  

Drs. Miller and Lacy were inducted into Texas A&M Dentistry’s Hall of Fame in 2025. 

Courtesy of Texas A&M University College of Dentistry

Published on April 8, 2025