10.18.24

Opportunity begets opportunity

Junetta Everett ’79 has been guided by her personal ethics of hard work, service and commitment to diversity throughout her life, including a storied career of more than four decades in dentistry. The WSU alumna practiced as a dental hygienist before accepting a position at Delta Dental of Kansas (DDKS), the state’s largest dental insurance agency, where she worked for 33 years, including a 27-year tenure as the company’s vice president of professional relations.

Everett obtained her associate degree from Butler County Community College before enrolling in Wichita State’s dental hygiene program. She recalls a disturbing moment of prejudice from a professor in the program who advised her to reconsider her career path, lest her clients feel uncomfortable with having a person of color as their dental hygienist. “That moment has stayed with me and shaped my professional journey,” Everett said of the encounter. “It sparked my interest in diversity and showed me the importance of creating opportunities for others.”

In 1979 she graduated from Wichita State’s dental hygiene program: the first African American at her alma mater and in the state of Kansas to do so.

During her time at Wichita State, she helped raise awareness for issues faced by individuals with similar life experiences as her.

“I remember sharing with my class that, because I lacked the opportunity to go to a dentist often, I had never even heard of a dental hygienist prior to speaking with a WSU advisor,” she said. “My topic was selected for presentation at a table clinic in Los Angeles, where we were able to explain the role and importance of a hygienist.”

That same commitment to diversity has guided her throughout her career. As vice president of professional relations at DDKS, she not only oversaw – amongst many other initiatives – network development, dental insurance training, and implementing policies across local and national scales, but she also worked to introduce high schoolers to her field.

“I began recruiting more minorities and men to the female-dominated profession, in part by speaking to high school students about the WSU program and career possibilities in dental hygiene,” Everett said. “And I am pleased to know that 2023 was one of the most diverse classes in Wichita State’s dental hygiene program.”

Everett calls higher education a “life-changing opportunity,” and, in 2013, she established a scholarship to support dental hygiene students at Wichita State. She calls the gift one of her most satisfying achievements in her professional career.

“As a student at Wichita State University, the environment I was in challenged me to engage with peers from other backgrounds, teaching me how to approach problems from different perspectives,” she said. “Those experiences were invaluable and inspired me to impact the program.”

Although retired from DDKS, the alumna remains deeply connected to the health of the Wichita community and serves on several boards, including the Kansas Health Foundation, Wesley Hospital, Equity Bank, Wichita State University and the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement. She was also appointed as the first person of color to hold the board chair for the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2020. In between her many board engagements, she enjoys visiting her five sons and 11 grandchildren with her husband, Victor Everett ’79, a physical education alumnus and former Shocker track star.

“When we can, we still enjoy recounting stories with people from our college years,” she said. “Stories like my friends wondering about my sudden interest in track and field.”

For her dentistry career spanning more than four decades and its indelible impact within the community, Everett will be honored with the 2024 Alumni Achievement Award at the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s annual Heritage Gala.

“Receiving this award is profoundly meaningful to me, as it symbolizes not only my personal achievements but also the invaluable influence of those who have guided and inspired me throughout my journey,” the honoree said. “It motivates me to continue my commitment to serving the community and the university, and supporting others in their educational endeavors.”

Everett and her fellow 2024 Alumni Award recipients will be honored at the Heritage Gala on Tuesday, October 29. Buy your tickets to celebrate Wichita State’s changemakers and their achievements.