Dr. Phipps graduated from Hampton University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in biology, then earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004. After dental school, she attended an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program for one year before heading west. She moved to Las Vegas in 2005 where she practiced part time before transferring to the University of Nevada School of Dental Medicine and has been in dental education ever since.
She started her career as an assistant professor in Clinical Sciences and held several leadership roles during her tenure. She became a clinical team leader in 2008 and remained so for 14 years; served as director of comprehensive care; worked as the department’s vice chair; and accepted the interim chair position shortly before the pandemic began. In 2019, she was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor society. She has also served and continues to serve as a Dental Officer in the Army National Guard since 2010.
In 2022, Dr. Phipps relocated to Denver, Colorado, and now is an associate professor-in-residence at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine on the Anschutz Medical Campus, where she continues to supervise clinical care as a faculty member in the restorative department. She has contributed significantly to the field of dentistry, particularly in the area of educational excellence, teaching, and mentorship of her students and peers.