Twana Edwards was born in Houston, Texas in 1968 to Elnora and Jessie James Edwards. She attended Houston ISD, graduating from Ross Shaw Sterling High School in the top of her class. Following graduation, Edwards enrolled in PVAMU as a biology major. She had a number of experiences at PVAMU that enhanced her academic development. She worked in Dr. Cuero’s lab in the College of Agriculture and completed an internship at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. As a student, she also became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
After graduating in 1990 from Prairie View A & M University with a bachelor’s degree in biology, she attended the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Edwards graduated in 1994 with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery. She completed a General Practice Residency at the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in Washington, D.C. in 1995, after which she moved to Chicago.
In Chicago, Dr. Edwards worked as a general dentist at various local dental offices, while also working for a school-based mobile dental service. In 2001, she started her own school- based mobile dental service, Smile Support LTD. She was awarded a contract from the Chicago Board of Education and the Chicago Department of Public Health to provide preventive dental treatment to students on-site in as many as 160 Chicago Public Schools. Currently, Dr. Edwards is president and CEO of the thriving Smile Support LTD, and an active member of the American Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Society, and the Chicago Dental Society.
Dr. Edwards believes in giving back to her alma mater. In recognition of her generosity, the Biology Department dedicated the Dr. Twana Edwards, B.E.S.T. Learning Laboratory.