Dr. Jenn Luca is a pediatric dentist. While in dental school, she conducted research in dental education and co-founded My Dental Key, a dental education company.  She found and led the Sustainability Committee, made up of students, faculty, and staff, while at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She used her experience organizing institutions around sustainable matters at Nationwide Children’s Hospital/The Ohio State University during her residency by creating the NCH Green Team and advocating for “Green Healthcare.” She volunteers with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare as a facilitator of the Sustainable Dentistry course to promote dental professional education and works with the ADEA SIG Sustainable Dentistry Group.  She has presented on Sustainable Dentistry at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Student Dental Association annual conferences. Dr. Jenn is dedicated to integrating environmentally sustainable practices into the dental profession and cultivating a community that supports the well-being of everyone, including our planet.

Dr. Toni Roucka is Professor Emerita at Marquette University School of Dentistry. She served as an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2013 to 2023. Her undergraduate degree is in Nursing. She received her D.D.S. from the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry and an M.A. in Bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin.  

Dr. Roucka's expertise in dental ethics is widely recognized, as evidenced by her numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and her role as a national speaker. She is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. She currently serves on the American College of Dentists Board as an At-large Regent.

Dr. Yaara Berdan is the Co-Chair of the Department of Endodontics and Periodontics at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and the Director of Predoctoral Endodontics. She received her D.D.S. from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, a certificate in pediatric dentistry from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and a certificate in endodontics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She recently obtained her M.B.A. and Certificate in Business and Sustainability from the USC Marshall School of Business.

She co-founded the ADEA Sustainability in Dentistry Special Interest Group and is currently serving as Chair. Dr. Berdan is the faculty advisor to the Ostrow Sustainability Group and is a member of the USC Practice Greenhealth Group and a member of the USC Presidential Working Group for Sustainability Education.

Dr. Lorel Burns is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics. She is a full-time faculty member at New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry and engages in part-time private practice in New York. Dr. Burns earned her DDS degree at NYU College of Dentistry (2015), completed her specialty training in Endodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (2017) and was awarded her master’s degree (MS) in clinical investigation by NYU School of Medicine (2019). In 2019, she was selected as the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Foundation’s Endodontic Educator Fellow. In 2022, she recognized with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Junior Faculty Award. Additionally, Dr. Burns participated in the 2023 cohort of the ADEA Leadership Institute as the ADEA/ AAE Foundation Scholar. 

Dr. Burns is a clinician-investigator, and her research program has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and the ADEAGies Foundation. Dr. Burns has used social media to study access to dental care and has researched the influence of social media on clinical dental education. Her research in the area is published in JMIR Formative Research and the Journal of Dental Education. 

Dr. Min-Wen Fu is a dedicated and highly skilled dentist with over 10 years of experience in the field of dentistry. He holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree and a Master degree in Oral Biology from Taiwan (Chung-Shan Medical University and National Defense Medical Center). Dr. Fu earned his endodontics certifications from New York University in 2021 as he had a passion for both clinical practice and education, he pursued a career in Dental Education at New York University.  

For the past years, Dr. Fu has served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the New York University, College of Dentistry. In this role, he has mentored and taught hundreds of dental students and residents, sharing his extensive knowledge and expertise in endodontics. His commitment to education is reflected in his innovative teaching methods, which blend traditional techniques with the latest advancements in dental learning with social media habits. 

Outside of his professional life, Dr. Fu is passionate about community service. He volunteers his time to provide dental care to underserved populations through various local and international outreach programs. 

Karen North, Ph.D., is a recognized expert in digital social media and in psychology. Dr. North is the Founder and former Director of University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg’s Digital Social Media program—the world’s first master’s degree program and research center focused on the leadership, management and development of digital products, platforms and communities. Dr. North is a Clinical Professor in the USC School of Communication with primary interests that include digital and social media, business and product strategy, privacy and safety online, Artificial Intelligence, brand building and reputation management. She regularly appears as an expert on national, international and local news, including television, newspaper, radio, podcast and online news outlets.

Trained as a clinical and social psychologist with considerable experience in federal telecommunications policy and practice, Dr. North’s interests come together in the digital world where entrepreneurs and large companies use social and digital media to bring people together, exert influence and form groups, and where these efforts impact our social, cultural and business worlds. She also focuses on governmental and regulatory efforts domestically and internationally. Dr. North teaches at USC and works with small and large companies, foreign and domestic governments and assorted projects in this sector. Prior to USC, Dr. North was the Assistant Dean of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Policy. 

Dr. North previously worked during the Clinton Administration, in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Domestic Policy Council. Before that, she worked for U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) who was then the Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

As a frontier leader and dental artificial intelligence expert, Dr. Mina Ghorbanifarajzadeh, worksat Overjet, one of the top 5 software companies reported by Dental Products Report. As serving Senior Clinical Manager for Overjet she helps shape the industry standards for what we can expect of Artificial Intelligence today and where we can expect it to go in the future.

With a background in technology, health care, and world-class service, Dr. Ghorbanifarajzadeh’s passions align with the mission that technology will bring to dentistry. She is energized by the growing technologies that will not only improve patient dental care but overall healthcare as well. Dr. Ghorbanifarajzadeh is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Dentistry and was the recipient of the Oral Maxillofacial Radiology Award. Also, she currently serves as a Wellness Ambassador for the ADA.

Brittany Marino works for Align Technology as a University and Early Career Education Manager, supporting University dental schools and New Grad GPs as they integrate Invisalign and iTero into their practice workflows. She has been with Align for nearly 7 years working across the company in clinical, sales, and customer support capacities. Prior to Align, Brittany worked as a public school teacher. However, her most important educator role to date is teaching her 4-and-7-year old children how to get along. 

Kim O’Connor is the Director of Operations with Aspen Dental supporting the practices in Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois. She's held several roles in the organization, learning operations from the ground up.  Her contributions and passion for patient care has been recognized with many awards throughout her tenure at Aspen Dental. Kim currently supports 30 practices in the Midwestand is instrumental in developing patient-centric field and office teams, by supporting a culture of leadership within the practice.

Dr. Eileen R. Hoskin is full time faculty and Director of the Division of Operative Dentistry within the Restorative Department at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). Positions at RSDM include course directorships, Director for Academic Affairs and Group Practice Administrator. Until two years ago she was also in private practice in New York City. Dr. Hoskin earned a dental degree from New Jersey Dental School (now Rutgers School of Dental Medicine); attended a General Practice Residency at St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and attained a master’s degree in dental education through American Dental Education Association (ADEA) /Academy for Academic Leadership (AAL) and the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. She completed a teaching certificate in effective college instruction through the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and has participated in many ADEA programs, including the Summer Program for Emerging Academic Leaders, and the Institute for Teaching and Learning. She has also completed the ADA/ Forsyth School program in Evidence Based Dentistry. 

Dr. Hoskin has published research in the Journal of Dental Education, Evidence-Based Dentistry, and Nutrition and Gerodontology and is a peer reviewer for many dental journals including Operative Dentistry and for the Academy of General Dentistry. Within dentistry and dental education, her focus is pedagogy and cariology. Updating cariology curriculum and researching best methods for student outcomes are her passion. She has presented programs at ADEA’s Annual Session & Exhibition, including Short Talks and Workshops.
Her leadership roles include Past President of the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association, Secretary/ Treasurer of the Academic Assembly at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and past Chair of the ADEA Cariology Section   She is an active member in the American Academy of Cariology (AAC), Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CaMBRA) and the Consortium of Operative Dentistry Educators (CODE). She is a member of the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry and an examiner for CDCA-WREB- CITA. 

Donald Lapine, D.M.D., FAGD, FACD received his dental degree in 1997 from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now known as Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM).  Dr. Lapine currently holds a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry and the American College of Dentists.
Dr. Lapine maintains memberships and leadership positions in numerous professional organizations, including the American Dental Association, New Jersey Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Dental Education Association [ADEA]. He is currently the Chair of ADEA’s Section on Cariology.  He has published numerous poster and abstract publications and has had the honor of lecturing nationally on Restorative Dentistry and Dental Education.
Dr. Lapine holds a full-time faculty appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine where he is the director of numerous preclinical Operative Dentistry Didactic and Laboratory courses. Additionally, he is a clinical attending for 3rd and 4th year students in Fixed Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry. 

Dr. Jan K. Mitchell is a 1979 graduate of Emory University School of Dentistry. She completed a two year Comprehensive Dentistry Residency in the US Navy, twice receiving their Award for Clinical Excellence. She served on active duty for 26 years, including assignments overseas, on ships, and in teaching programs. She is certified as a Master by the Academy of General Dentistry and is a Diplomate of both the Federal Services Board of General Dentistry and the American Board of Operative Dentistry, which she has served as President. 

Dr. Mitchell is a retired Professor in Restorative Sciences at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta, where she was inducted into the Georgia Health Sciences Academy of Educators. The 2015 recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award at the Dental College of Georgia, Dr. Mitchell also lectures nationally on many topics, including new concepts in caries, vital pulp therapy, dental materials, and treatment planning with risk assessment. She lives in Augusta with her husband, Dr. David Snyder. 

Cameron L. Randall, Ph.D., is a clinical health psychologist and Assistant Professor of Oral Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle. His NIH-funded research focuses on pain, dental fear, health behavior, and providers’ implementation of evidence-based practice. He has published more than 50 journal articles and book chapters on these topics, and his scholarly work has been recognized with awards from the NIH, the International Association for Dental Research, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Randall also researches and speaks nationally and internationally on topics related to workforce well-being. He serves in leadership positions in the International Association for Dental Research, and he is a member of the editorial boards for Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology and JDR Clinical and Translational Research. He was a lead author on the Consensus Statement on Future Directions for the Behavioral and Social Sciences in Oral Health and was a contributor for the recently released NIH Report, Oral Health in America. At the University of Washington School of Dentistry, he teaches behavioral science topics in the predoctoral and resident curricula. Dr. Randall completed his undergraduate studies (BS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his graduate studies (MS, PhD) at West Virginia University, and his clinical psychology internship training at the University of Washington, where he was a resident in behavioral medicine and neuropsychology.

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Dr. Carter Bruett (he/him/they/them) received his B.S., M.Ed. and D.D.S. degrees from the University of Utah. He then set off to New York City where he was trained in oral and maxillofacial pathology at New York Presbyterian/Queens. Returning to the University of Utah, he now is an assistant professor at the School of Dentistry where he teaches predoctoral students, directs several pre-dental pathway programs, and sees patients with clinical oral pathology needs through the University faculty practice. Dr. Bruett is an active participant in several academic associations, including ADEA, where they currently serve as the secretary for the PRIDE section. 

Dr. Nathalia Garcia is a Periodontist, Professor, Assistant Dean for Career Development, Chair of the Applied Dental Medicine Department, and Section Head of Periodontics at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Garcia is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Saint Louis University.

With a deep commitment to dental education, Dr. Garcia is actively involved in both pre-doctoral and postdoctoral teaching. Her academic pursuits include a diploma in University Teaching and Education, reflecting her dedication to advancing innovative teaching methodologies and curriculum initiatives in the field of periodontics.

As the department chair, Dr. Garcia plays a pivotal role in faculty professional development, mentorship, and fostering external collaborations for research endeavors. She has contributed significantly to clinical and educational research, participating in various projects funded by private industry and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) including the Human Microbiome Project, and was the SIU PI of the multi-center study supported by the NIH-NIDCR entitled Biomarkers of periodontal disease progression. These research efforts have culminated in numerous publications.

Dr. Garcia's contributions to the dental community have earned her prestigious accolades, including membership in the OKU Dental Honor Society, fellowship in the International College of Dentists, and recognition as a fellow of the American Dental Association-ADEA Leadership Institute. In 2017, she was honored as the ADEA Enid Neidle Scholar. Acknowledged for her outstanding contributions to inclusion, equity, and diversity, Dr. Garcia was named a SIUE Phenomenal Woman in 2020. Subsequently, in 2022, she received the American Academy of Periodontology Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring in Periodontics at Saint Louis University. Notably, Dr. Garcia was a runner-up for the one-time piece ADEA President Centennial Award for Oral Health Education.

Beyond her academic and research roles, Dr. Garcia actively serves the dental community. She is a test constructor for the Integrated National Board Dental Examination for the American Dental Association and contributes to the American Academy of Periodontology's Educational Committee. Dr. Garcia holds leadership roles as the chair-elect of the ADEA Women in Leadership Section, the SIU-ADEA Woman Liaison Officer, and a representative to the ADEA Council of Faculties. She also co-chairs the American Dental Education Association - ADEA Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee and is a member of the ADEA Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment group. She was recently invited to be part of the ADEA Task Force on Envisioning and Transforming the Future of Oral Health and Education. Dr. Garcia's commitment to diversity is further evidenced by her certification as a Diversity Facilitrainer (CDFT) by NCCJ Saint Louis.

Dr. López-Fuentes, D.M.D., M.P.H., FACD, FICD; is a tenured Professor, at the Community Dentistry Section of the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine (UPRSDM). She is currently the 2024-2025 Immediate Past-Chair of the ADEA Board of Directors, 2023-2024 Chair of the ADEA Board of Directors.Dr. López-Fuentes served as Dean of the UPRSDM from 2014-2018. At the UPRSDM, she serves as President of the Infection Control and Quality Assurance Standing Committees. She earned a certificate in dental infection prevention and control fromOSAP and the DALE Foundation. She is a member of the ADEA Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment (CDECA), and UPRSDM’s ADEA Women Liaison Officer since 2006. She is Site Visitor for the ADA Commission on DentalAccreditation (CODA), and Ex-officio member/Consultant to the Board of Trustees of the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA). Dr. López serves as faculty advisor to the HDA and the American Association of Women Dentists Student Chapters.

Dr. López-Fuentes served as Co-Chair of ADEA’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee from 2014-2021, ADEA’s Annual Session Program Committee (2018-2021),Immediate Past Chair of ADEA’s Women in Leadership Section, and Councilor to the Council of Sections representing the Women in Leadership Section. From 2018 to 2019,represented the HDA in the American Dental Association Presidents’ Summit for Diversity and Inclusion. She served as faculty advisor to the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM), fellowship from 2018-2022.

Dr. López-Fuentes has served as faculty representative to the Academic Senate at the UPR Medical Sciences Campus, to ADEA’s Council of Faculties, UPRSDM Curriculum
Director, Community Dentistry Section Chief and UPRSDM Associate Dean. At the university level, she represented the Medical Sciences Campus (MSC), Academic Senate at the President’s Board and was appointed Executive Secretary to the UPR President’s Board. She directed the first dental assistant program at the University of Granada, Spain; resulting from a collaboration between the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Granada, Spain. Dr. López-Fuentes is an alumnus of several leadership programs: ADEA’s Summer Program for Emerging Academic Leaders, ELAM and the Bell Leadership Institute.

As Dean of the UPRSDM, she was instrumental in amending the local dental law, implementing the electronic health record, the approval of the Periodontics Graduate
program and the first Dean of the UPRSDM to be elected to ADEA’s Council of Deans Administrative Board. She is the Recipient of the 2018 Chair of the ADEA Board of
Directors Citation for significant contributions to dental education.

Dr. Carlos Smith is the inaugural Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence, Ethics, and Community Engagement and an Associate Professor in the Department of Dental Public Health and Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. A national voice in dentaland health professions education, he is a member of the board of directors of the Academy for Professionalism in Health Care and currently serves as President-Elect of the American Society for Dental Ethics. An active ADEA member, he has served on the Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment, which led the first ever dental education-wide climate stud. He has served as previous chair of the section on Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues, and was recently elected secretary of the section on Minority Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion. Also an ordained clergy, Smith completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Duke Medical Center, with emphasis on providing care and crisis management to families of cardiac pediatric patients. A sought after speaker, he has provided keynote and seminar presentations for the National Dental Association, ADA, American College of Dentists, ADEA, Virginia Health Catalyst, Virginia Dental Association, dental schools, hospital systems, and oral health advocacy groups. He has a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. He graduated from Hampton University, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and Duke Divinity School. His scholarly activity currently focuses on conceptualizing a reimagined professionalism inclusive of critical consciousness and identity, the history of racism in healthcare, inclusive excellence in dental education, and provider wellbeing and burnout. Dr. Smith continues as a general dentist within the VCU Dental Faculty Practice, is co-advisor to the VCU chapter of SNDA and supports the Aligned and Allied student group.

Dr. Katherine Velasco, a Colombian national, graduated in dentistry in 1998, spent 10 years in private practice and served the community for three years in Colombia. Later, she became part of the educational force of the Dental Academy where she instructed more than 900 students at Roseman University, during which time she received recognition as outstanding faculty and faculty of the year.

Dr Velasco has been included in the bibliographical compendium of who's who in America as a person of interest who has dedicated part of her life to the improvement of the profession and dental education.

Currently Dr. Velasco is an assistant professor and clinical team leader in the International Graduate Dental - IDG -program at NOVA Southeastern University and serves on the student progress committee, and practice dentistry one day a week.

Dr. Velasco, having only been at NSU for a short time, she already obtained the dean's award for diversity, integrity, leadership, and excellence.

In addition to her academic career, Dr. Katherine Velasco is an active member of ADEA where she has been Chair of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care IPECC and currently the Chair-Elect of Minorities Affairs Diversity and Inclusion Section.

Dr. Velasco is an active member of the Hispanic Dental Association where she fulfills different leadership roles at the national, state, and institutional levels.

Her greatest satisfaction is seeing others progress and succeed in something she was able to contribute to.

Dr. Velasco knows how to balance work and family life, she enjoys the beach, hiking, painting, doing projects, and exploring new places.

Dr. Tanya Wright is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial pathologist who graduated from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, TN.  She completed her oral pathology residency training at The New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens in Flushing, NY. Dr. Wright has shared her expertise in oral and maxillofacial pathology with numerous students and residents. Currently, she is an associate professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Surgical Dentistry at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. 

Dr. Kimberly Ruona serves as the dental director for Harris Health System’s Community Dental Services. Since 2020, she has led the partnership and clinical practice team that provides general dentistry in six community health centers across the Houston metropolitan area. Dr. Ruona is an assistant professor in the Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry where she was the Associate Dean for Patient Care from 2015-2020. Prior to relocating to Houston in 2010, she practiced in northern Michigan and Washington state. She is a proud 1992 graduate of University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Speaker agrees that neither I nor any member of my family have a financial arrangement or affiliation with any corporate organization offering financial support or grant monies for this continuing education program, nor do I have a financial interest in any commercial products(s) or service(s) I will discuss in the presentation.

Dr. Thomas A. Servos, Professor in the Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health was appointed Chief Clinical Officer of UT Dentists, the clinical practice enterprise, in July 2021. 

In this role, Dr. Servos oversees the UT Dentists’ clinical operations which consists of the clinical practice plan located at UTHealth Houston, School of Dentistry, and a dental service line consisting of multiple community dental clinics through a UT Dentists collaboration. He supports ongoing initiatives and progress as UT Dentists continue with expansion efforts into the Houston and surrounding area.

UT Dentists was established in 2006, and Dr. Servos served as their first Clinic Director and he also served as Director of Patient Assessment, Vice-Chair of the former Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Interim Head of Radiology.

Dr. Servos was raised in Houston and graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio Dental School in 1983.  Upon graduation Dr. Servos practiced in the Houston Medical Center until he joined the UT Health Houston School of Dentistry in 1995.

Dr. John A. Valenza is dean and professor of the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston (UTSD) where he has been a member of the full-time faculty since 1987. He has served in numerous administrative roles, including GPR director, clinical dean, department chair, executive associate dean and, since 2009, dean. He is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists, and a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, Greater Houston Dental Society, American Dental Education Association and the American Association of Hospital Dentists.

Associate Dean for Patient Services, Clinical Professor

Associate Editor, Journal of Dental Education, American Dental Education Association

Director for Curriculum Evaluation and Promotion for Teaching and Learning

Dean

Associate Professor, Department of Community Dentistry andPopulation Health

Associate Director, Center for OralDisease Prevention and Population Health Research 

Program Director, DDS/MPH program

Tiyana Davis, a native from Richmond, Virginia, is a senior at the Old Dominion University School of Dental Hygiene and a member of the Perry Honors College. She is currently in her last semester of dental hygiene school. She hopes to inspire the next generation of dental professionals and students.

Chance Johnson is a current second-year dental student at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine! She grew up in Teaneck, NJ and attended William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where she graduated with a BS in Psychology. Following her undergraduate degree, she moved to Boston, MA, where she received her Master’s in Oral Health Sciences at Boston University. Chance hopes to be a role model for underrepresented dental students across the nation and her goal is to help eliminate health disparities. 

Ashton Poole is a first-generation doctor/dentist from Boiling Springs, South Carolina. Ashton received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Queens University of Charlotte where he also competed in collegiate track and field. Ashton is currently in his third year of dental school at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine. Ashton currently serves as the MUSC Student National Dental Association (SNDA) chapter president. His future plans are to practice general dentistry in an underserved community. 

Edika Quevedo Dejesus is a current D2 student at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (Class of 2026). She is a first-generation doctor/dentist from Elizabeth New Jersey and of Hispanic ethnicity. She attended Rutgers University for graduate studies with a major in Biological Sciences and a minor in Religion. Currently she serves as a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholar and advocate for service to those in underserved areas.

Vicky Tran graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2022 before entering the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry (UCSF SOD). Currently, she is a D2 student at UCSF SOD and also a NHSC scholar. Some of her hobbies include going to the gym, cooking and fiber arts.

Rebekah Webster is a 3rd year dental student at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). After graduating from Columbia University with her BS in Chemical Engineering, she moved back home to Nashville, TN to focus on her research with Vanderbilt University and to pursue a singing career in the gospel music industry. She published two manuscripts regarding biometric analysis for early disease detection, was signed to Integrity Music with her band Nashville Life Music and reached #3 on Billboard’s gospel music charts. After five years, she decided to pivot her career to something that would allow her to express her creativity while satisfying her love of hands-on patient care. Currently, she serves as the president of the RSDM chapter of Student National Dental Association (SNDA) and will be graduating in 2025. 

Curtis Burrill II joined ADEA in 2022 and serves as Senior Director, Recruitment and Outreach for Dental Education, in the Office of Educational Services ( Pathways, Policy, and Research). In this role, Curtis leads the development, implementation, and achievement of ADEA’s Centralized Application Services strategic recruitment plan. Curtis has a M.Ed. in Student Personnel Administration from Springfield College and a B.S. in Landscape Horticulture from the University of Maine.

Michelle Lee took on the role of Executive Director at the Organization of Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) in 2018. Her dedication to OSAP’s mission of offering comprehensive infection prevention and control education, training and credentialing for ensuring safe dental visits has been instrumental in fostering robust partnerships within the dental and health care sectors. With over three decades of experience in the dental and health care industries, Ms. Lee has held prominent positions, including leading the largest dental and medical staffing firm in the Southeast. Additionally, she has consulted within health care organizations, providing both leadership and team development training. Her goal is to continue to support OSAP’s efforts to shape a safe and secure future for dental professionals and the patients they serve.

Karen Raposa is currently Regional Manager at HuFriedyGroup, a division of STERIS Corporation. Ms. Raposa is a registered dental hygienist with a Master of Business Administration and over 40 years of experience in the dental profession. She earned the title of Certified Central Service Vendor Partner with the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association and has spent the last 22 years consulting with faculty, residents and students in dental and dental hygiene programs in both the United States and Canada to help implement their clinical programs. Ms. Raposa was an adjunct faculty member at Bristol Community College and held a full-time faculty position in the Department of General Dentistry at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.