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Dr. Alicia Spence leads the recruitment and admission office that shaped her academic life and career. She’s expanding the College of Dentistry’s recruitment reach to more colleges and geographic areas in Texas. 

Dr. Alicia Spence was named director of recruitment and admissions at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry March 17, after more than a decade in various teaching and administrative roles at her alma mater. Spence was tapped as interim director in 2024 and served on the admissions committee for several years. 

Dr. Ernestine Lacy, associate dean of student affairs, praised Spence’s work ethic, energy and positive attitude.  

“She brings to this position needed experience, innovative ideas and professionalism,” Lacy said. “Dr. Spence has both a sincere love of the College of Dentistry and a genuine care for its students and everyone at the college.” 

In Spence’s role, she travels the state to recruit students from major universities, including Texas A&M, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas. She will increase recruiting efforts to include Texas Tech University, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and smaller colleges and universities in person and via video conferences. 

“Ninety percent of our students are from Texas; it’s required,” she said. “They come from all over. We get students from Texas A&M, of course, and from UT-Austin, the University of Houston and from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.” 

Spence’s devotion to Texas A&M’s dental college in Dallas runs deep. 

A kinesiology major at Rice University in Houston, Spence was about to enter her senior year when she shadowed at her family’s longtime dentist in San Antonio. A six-week summer predental enrichment program at the dental college later gave her hands-on experience and the confidence to pursue dentistry. 

Spence wasn’t accepted the first time, so she entered a post-baccalaureate program at the dental college while taking science classes at UTD. She married and had a baby while in dental college, so she relates to nontraditional students. 

“My faculty were so supportive,” she said. “I had to be organized, and I had to be careful with my time, but they were on my side. They wanted me to have all the resources that I needed. They wanted me to be successful, and I could feel that.” 

Spence graduated in 2012 and, after working for a mobile practice treating geriatric patients, returned to the college as a full-time faculty member in 2014 because she wanted to help students. She continues to teach as a clinical assistant professor in comprehensive dentistry, co-founded the dental college’s Mental Health and Wellness Committee and mentors student researchers. 

“Our students come from all over, and I like that because they will treat patients from all over,” Spence said. “They will go back to all these areas of Texas that need them.”