Doris Ricks-Lankford

After graduating from Valdosta HS; I attended Valdosta State College, now Valdosta State University, for Pre-dental Hygiene and transferred to Medical College of GA - now Georgia Regents University, in Augusta, GA. I practiced as a licensed dental hygiene through preceptorship and worked for eleven years before attending college for my degree.

Having completed my BS in Dental Hygiene, I worked w as a Dental Hygienist in Augusta & Aiken, SC.. I met my husband and father of my daughters in Augusta during my last semester. Then, worked with the Dept of Health & Human Resources and dual faculty member @ MCG in Dept of Dental Hygiene. Our first daughter, Laura, born in 1985, following the first year of Dental/ Medical School for her Dad.

In 1986, I choose to seek a Teaching Certification in Secondary Science, Middle - High School ( grades 4th - 8th) at Augusta State University, now part of the GA Regents University in Augusta, GA. My desire was to have summers with our daughrer. where. I taught in McDuffie and Richmond County, GA.

Our second daughter was born in April, 1988, the year my husband completed Medical school and started Internship and residency in Anesthesiology@ MCG. Working part-time, I also worked as a dental hygienist, in Agusta and Aiken, SC until my husband completed his anesthesiology residency.We moved to Dallas,Tx in 1991 to be near the girls grandparents: Jean & Lee Lankford, MD.

Following an unexpected divorced in 2002. I credentialed from GA to TX as a Certified Science Teacher, 8-12th, 2004., where I taught the next four years @ DISD, Molina HS, School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, RISD, GISD, while in Graduate a School @ Argosy University, Dallas. I graduated in October, 2008 and credentialed as LPC-Intern while working @ DARS, Division for Blind Services..

When I left DARS, DBS, I taught @ RISD while seeking employment @ ALS Association, where I began April, 2010 and worked until Sept, 2013. Credentialing as LPS at present, waiting for my license from State of Texas as a LPC..

Currently, I am an International Coordinator with Aspect Foundation, serving the DFW area. Also,, I am a graduate student at St. Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN) in Organizational Leadership. My goal is to develp a counseling practice in Dallas and serve the ALS community in service delivery and work as an advocate, service provider for those who have little voice to ma