A question & answer with the 2025 NCEA Distinguished Alumni. The third iteration with Auburn alumna Hannah Loseke.

What is your favorite memory from being on the equestrian team?
Winning SECs and Nationals in the same year, 2016.

Are you still involved with horses? How so?
Yes! I have two horses. I have a show mare named Flynn I still compete with on the AQHA circuit. My other horse is my retired youth horse. He is 22 years old and living out his best days.

Tell us a little bit about your current career and how. you got to where you are today?
I am a pediatric dentist. My mom is a general dentist and I followed in her footsteps going to dental school in Nebraska right after graduating from Auburn. I loved working with kids and finding ways to help them through appointments at the dentist so I decided to do a pediatric residency program in Cincinnati. After I finished residency, I moved to Kansas City where I work in private practice now.

How did your experience as a student-athlete help propel you in your current career?
Being a student-athlete really helped me have excellent time management to get through dental school. As a student athlete you learn to optimize all of your down time, because you do not have much. The class and work load of dental school is much higher than undergrad but I really knew how to balance my time since I was a student-athlete.

How valuable was the opportunity to be a part of a team?
Being a part of the equestrian team was so valuable and an experience I would not trade for anything. There were many life lessons learned about grit and working together as a team with a group. I learned to be very accountable for myself and others (if one person was late to workouts, we all had to run haha). Being a part of the equestrian team set a good foundation for me to be a successful dentist.

If you could tell your college self anything, what would it be?
Keep working hard, it’s all worth it. Take a nap when you get tired and don’t stay up too late before your exams.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I see myself as a multiple dental practice owner and would love to have land to have my horses in my backyard!