THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR CARE
DENTIST & OWNER
General Dentist
Dr. Melanie grew up in Moulton, Texas, where she graduated from Moulton High School in 1998. She went on to earn a degree in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002, then received her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio in 2006. She completed a one-year general dentistry residency at UTHSCSA before entering private practice.
Dr. Melanie associated with two dental practices before purchasing and opening Shiner Dental, PLLC in Shiner, Texas in July 2010. Family is at the heart of everything she does — Shiner Dental is built around the premise of family first, offering top-quality, professional care with small-town hospitality.
Outside the office, Dr. Melanie enjoys spending time with friends and family. She is married to Bobby Cowan, originally of Shiner, and they have two daughters, Camille and Claire.
THE WHOLE TEAM
Patient Coordinator
Penny is our Patient Coordinator and is the first smiling face patients see when they walk through the door. She has been an integral part of Shiner Dental for a decade, coordinating patient appointments both at Shiner Dental and with our referrals, helping with back office and front office responsibilities, and being the voice on the phone that our patients have come to rely on. Penny is married to her husband Clint and they have 3 beautiful daughters: Kara, Kallie, and Kaci.
Administrative Assistant
Mary Ann, Dr. Cowan's mom, brings over 20 years of experience as a small business owner to help keep operations running smoothly. She has worked for Shiner Dental for 14 years navigating the ins and outs of the dental office. Mary Ann is one of the first faces you will see entering our office — she always has a welcoming smile and strives to make you feel comfortable and secure. For fun, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping in Canton, taking trips to the beach, and spoiling her grandchildren.
Dental Hygienist
Shandlyn hails from Hallettsville and completed the Registered Dental Hygienist Program at Wharton County Junior College in 1991. With over 30 years of experience cleaning teeth, she takes the necessary time with each patient to address their dental hygiene needs and educate them on their personal care requirements. Outside the office, Shandlyn enjoys photography, caring for animals at home, and trips to the deer lease with her family. She and her husband Steve have two sons, Kelton and Korbin, one daughter-in-law, McKenzie, and a granddaughter, Kalyn.
Dental Hygienist
Brooke is a 2007 graduate of Saint Paul High School and graduated from the dental hygiene program at Wharton County Junior College in 2011. She worked as a dental hygienist in Bryan, Texas from 2011 to 2017 before moving back home to Shiner. Brooke joined Shiner Dental in 2018 and is very compassionate about putting her patients at ease and ensuring a positive dental experience. In her spare time, she loves being with her three kids and family, attending sporting events, and spending time outdoors.
Dental Hygienist
Callie has been in the dental field for over 15 years, graduating from dental hygiene school in 2012 and joining Shiner Dental in May 2016. She is passionate about making each patient visit as relaxed, comfortable, and stress-free as possible. Callie has been married since 2016 to Dillard Glass, and together they work in the farm and ranch industry in Gonzales. They have two kids, Dawson and Savannah. In her spare time, Callie loves helping on the ranch and traveling with her husband.
Dental Assistant
Chassity graduated from Moulton High School in 2005 and attended Austin Dental Assistant School in 2015, obtaining her dental assistant license. She has been working at Shiner Dental since July 2014, assisting Dr. Cowan in patient treatment and keeping everything running smoothly. Chassity has been married to her husband Roy since 2012 and has 3 children, Brinley, Kylynn, and Trae. On her free time, she enjoys watching her kids compete in sports and activities, crafting, and other hands-on hobbies.
Dental Assistant
Rhonda graduated from Hallettsville High School in 1981 and attended Victoria Jr. College. She has been a Dental Assistant since 1982 and has been employed at Shiner Dental since 2018, playing a key role in assisting Dr. Cowan during dental treatment. Rhonda married her husband Timmy in 1985. On her free time, she loves adventuring on the beach or lake, hunting, fishing, and gardening.
Dental Assistant / Administrative Assistant
Kaitlynn graduated from Shiner High School in 2019 and immediately attended Victoria College to obtain her dental assisting license. She worked in New Braunfels for 3 years before returning to school to continue her education, with hopes of one day becoming a Dental Hygienist. Kaitlynn joined Shiner Dental in 2024 and is very versatile — she is one of the welcoming faces you see at the front desk and also assists Dr. Cowan chairside when needed. On her free time, she enjoys gardening, hunting trips to the hill country, and spending time with family and friends.
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