Ariel Cornwall, a Tampa, Florida native from the Sunshine State, discovered her love for music and the arts in early childhood when a music instructor recognized her singing talent. From that moment on, she embraced every creative opportunity available to her. She participated in music productions, won talent shows, sang in churches, took part in school events, performed at Walt Disney World, and sang the National Anthem for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. Over time, songwriting evolved into storytelling. Those early experiences are where her passion for music and writing was born.

 

   After graduating high school, Ariel attended Paul Mitchell cosmetology school, which cultivated her interest in beauty and self-care. She later pursued dental hygiene at Atlanta Technical College, where she earned her Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene and developed a strong professional interest in preventative oral health. After successfully passing two challenging board exams, she became a licensed Registered Dental Hygienist.

 

   During dental hygiene school, there was limited opportunity for creativity, as the program primarily emphasized science and clinical skill development. Looking back, Ariel believes her inner self was seeking a way to harmonize creativity with science to discover deeper fulfillment and purpose. One pivotal assignment transformed her path — she was asked to teach children about oral health and created a story titled “The Story of Happy Tooth and Sad Tooth.” The overwhelmingly positive response from both children and staff affirmed that her two passions could exist in meaningful alignment.

 

  Following graduation, Ariel founded her publishing company, Star Stories LLC, and published her first engaging, educational children’s book that teaches the importance of brushing and flossing every day. The hallmark of her first book is its beautiful, distinctive illustrations of an African American female dentist as the main character, promoting diversity in children’s literature. Recognizing that representation in dentistry and children’s media remains limited, Ariel intentionally used her book as a tool to help children see themselves reflected in healthcare and to reimagine who can be a leader, healer, and professional. This first publication marked the beginning of a growing body of work dedicated to education, representation, and creative storytelling.

 

   Building on her commitment to education, Ariel used her book as a platform to expand her impact beyond the page. Through community engagement and oral health equity efforts, she served as a mentor to dental hygiene students, partnered with prestigious companies to advance oral health awareness, and led oral health literacy initiatives that included donating her own dental children’s book across the United States, Jamaica, Mexico, and Africa, just to name a few. She also served as an ambassador and mentor for nonprofit organizations promoting oral health equity and has spoken publicly to support education and professional growth.

 

   Seven years after earning her associate degree, Ariel chose to deepen her academic foundation and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene at Clayton State University. During her bachelor’s journey, she became an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., committed to Service to All Mankind.

 

   She now brings both creativity and clinical excellence into her work as a Registered Dental Hygienist and Dental Hygiene Instructor, guided by a deep love for the industry and a purpose rooted in service. Her work is centered on helping others expand and extend their careers while promoting wellness, growth, and advocacy. She believes that, "To truly live well, we must treat the smile, nurture the spirit, strengthen the body, and let advocacy become the heartbeat of wellness" — and that is why she is THEE RDH!

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