Lydia Cosio, R.D.A, C.D.A., B.S.
Dental Assisting Professor, Program Director and Department Chairperson

Contact:lcosio@cerritos.edu 
Office: 562-860-2451 x2587

Ms. Lydia Cosio is an alumna of the Cerritos College Dental Assisting program and holds her Associate of Arts degree from Cerritos College. She has also earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Studies from California State University Long Beach.

Ms. Cosio has over 25 years of chairside experience in general, private practice and has been an instructor at Cerritos College for over 35 years.

Marisol Saucedo, R.D.A., C.D.A., B.S. 
Dental Assisting Instructor

Contact:msaucedo@cerritos.edu 

Marisol Saucedo is a highly experienced Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) with 32 years of experience in the field. She is also certified as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Assistant.

Marisol has earned an AA degree in Dental Assisting from Cerritos College and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies: Vocational Arts from CSULB. She has been teaching part-time at Cerritos College for 23 years.

Teresa Hurtado, R.D.A., C.D.A., B.A.
Dental Assisting Instructor

Contact:thurtado@cerritos.edu 

Mrs. Hurtado has been a Registered Dental Assistant for 20+ years. She has worked in General practices, orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry offices, in addition to 16+ years of teaching experience. She received her Teaching Credential in Career Technical Education from The Commission on Teaching Credentials of California in Health Science and Medical Terminology. Mrs. Hurtado earned her Bachelor's of Arts degree in Career and Technical Education from California State University, San Bernardino. Mrs. Hurtado enjoys teaching Dental Assisting to her students and inspiring others to enjoy their dental careers.

Anne Contreras, CDA, COA, RDA, OA, M.Ed.
Dental Assisting Faculty. Interim Program Director and Interim Department Chair.

Contact:acontreras@cerritos.edu 

Anne has been in the dental profession for approximately 29 years. She received her Associates of Science Degree in Dental Assisting from Cypress College, CTE Teaching Credential from University of San Diego, earned her Baccalaureate Degree in Sociology from Chapman University and was awarded her Masters Degree in Education from the University of San Diego. 

Ms. Contreras has taught at several private colleges, high schools, adult education and community college dental assisting programs for over a 18 years and brings best practices in her classroom. She teaches engaging courses in dental materials, introduction and advanced chairside techniques, orthodontic assisting, coronal polishing, infection control, pit and fissure sealants, and ultrasonic scaling. In addition to her passion of teaching students, she is also a volunteer chairside orthodontic assistant at a private practice and BLS Health Care Provider CPR Instructor for the American Heart Association. She is a member of several dental and teacher associations and gives back to the community by participating at free clinics.

Ms. Contreras is a previous Subject Matter Expert, writing and editing the written portion of the Registered Dental Assisting examination and is served her final term as Chair on the Dental Board of California, representing dental assistants. Currently, she is a Subject Matter Expert in Orthodontics with the Dental Assisting National Board.

Donna Wedell, CDA, RDA, BVE, MA
Adjunct Dental Assisting Faculty

Contact: dwedell@cerritos.edu 

Ms. Donna Wedell has been in the dental profession for over 49+years as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).   She has received her Associate in Science Degree in dental assisting from Rio Hondo College, earned a Clear Community College teaching certificate from the University of California, Los Angeles, earned her Baccalaureate Degree in Vocational education from California State University, Los Angeles and awarded a Master of Arts Degree with a vocational education emphasis from California State University San Bernardino. She has a passion for high-quality education and a love of changing the lives of the students.

 She has worked as a chairside assistant in private practice in general dentistry, pediatric and office manager.  She has always been an educator at dental assisting at Cerritos College as well as several community colleges in their Dental Assisting programs. She has taught courses in dental materials, infection control, chairside, dental sciences, radiology and Coronal polish, and sealants.  

Ms. Wedell has served several years on the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as a site visitor for other colleges.  She has been an expert witness in a court case regarding dental radiology.  Currently, she is on the Board of Director for the California Association of Dental Assisting Teachers (CADAT).  She has previous been a BLS Health Care Provider CPR instructor for the American Heart Association.