Dr. Antanious White is an educator, researcher and ADEA Senior Director of Student Engagement and Success with over a decade of experience advancing equity and inclusion in education and professional organizations. As a scholar, his work explores the intersectionality of race, gender and place-based identities, examining their impact on educational outcomes and health disparities while highlighting pathways of resilience.

Committed to advancing DEI, Dr. White has led innovative initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic barriers and promoting social justice in education. His teaching philosophy emphasizes racial equity, critical thinking and collaboration, fostering an inclusive classroom environment where students are encouraged to engage deeply with complex social issues.

Dr. White continues at ADEA to lead transformative efforts that advance diversity and inclusion in higher education. With a collaborative and solutions-driven approach, he is dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities and inspiring systemic change through education, research and DEI leadership.

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.

Dr. Reginald Salter grew up rural Georgia where dental care was not an option other than pain due to family finances. As a student who enjoyed science, he became curious about what a dentist does. After visiting the town’s lone dentist to complete a class project on careers, he decided in sixth grade that dentistry was the profession he would pursue. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at Howard University in Washington D.C. He also serves as Director for Admissions and Student Activities. He received a B.S. in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana, Doctorate in Dental Surgery from Howard University, and completed a residency in the U.S. Navy. He later received an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix. He began his dental practice in Waldorf, MD and later opened a second practice in Washington DC. Inspired by the number of students he mentored in his offices, he began teaching part time. After finding his true passion in dental education, Dr. Salter retired from full time private practice and defended his dissertation on learning styles and accommodations for dental students diagnosed with a learning disability to receive a Ph.D. in higher education leadership from Northcentral University. He is committed to serving underserved populations and increasing diversity in the medical field. He leads a group of dentists, hygienists, and students annually on dental mission trips to Jamaica and with Remote Area Medical no less than three times a year. He is planning a mission in Trinidad for 2026 with students from Howard University.

He is a 2025 graduate of the ADEA Leadership Institute. He is a recipient of numerous awards including being named Professor to the Year by the students at Howard University during multiple years. He received the minority faculty recognition award of excellence in research from the National Dental Association, and the American Dental Educators Association award for outstanding junior faculty research. He is currently Treasurer of the DC/MD/VA chapter of the Xavier University of LA Alumni Association, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Dental Association, President-Elect for Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society Pi Pi Chapter, Fellow and Editor for the DC chapter of the International College of Dentists, Fellow of the American College of Dentists, and is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Andrews is a native of Southern California. She obtained her B.A. in Biology from California State University, Northridge, followed by her Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. She owned and operated a general dentistry private practice for 10 years in Merced, CA, and completed her specialty training and master’s degree in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry. During her time in private practice, Dr. Andrews was the first female dentist in Merced, leading Merced County as the Health Department Liaison helping to improve oral health for the community. She also served as the first female President of the Yosemite Dental Society and subsequently, was appointed as a Trustee to the California Dental Association. 

In 2008, Dr. Andrews joined Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine (WU CDM) during its infancy as a new dental school.  She served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and was integral in developing the Office of Academic Affairs, managing staff and faculty while providing oversight of the burgeoning curriculum to ensure student and programmatic success. Early on, Dr. Andrews helped establish the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) chapter at CDM, fostering service activities aimed at helping women in need. The AAWD chapter established a girl scout troop in Pomona and provided over $40,000 of dental care to women from the Crossroads Program. 

Nationally, Dr. Andrews served as the Chair for the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Women in Leadership Section and was instrumental in establishing a leadership development program at no cost to all ADEA members.  

Dr. Andrews has been teaching Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology in her faculty role since 2009, and her research interests include HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and the impact of interprofessional collaborative care. After serving 11 years as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for WU CDM, Dr. Andrews was appointed to serve as its Dean—setting the bar again as the first female Dean of a California dental school.

Prof. Oluranti daCosta is a specialist in the field of Orthodontics. She is a lecturer with the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and an Honorary consultant with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. She graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos in 1983 with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and went on to specialize in Orthodontics at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Lagos, Nigeria, being one of the first three to be trained in the specialty in Nigeria. She has actively practiced Orthodontics for over 30 years and is responsible for training and mentoring hundreds of undergraduates as well as numerous postgraduate students, many of whom are now academics themselves. 

Prof. daCosta has attended and presented at numerous national and international conferences and workshops on her specialty to improve her knowledge and skill acquisition. She is a member of numerous dental and orthodontic associations both nationally and internationally. She is a Past President of the Nigerian Association of Orthodontists. She is also a member of the Smile Train African Medical Advisory Committee. 

Prof. daCosta has authored and co-authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has held several positions of responsibility at faculty-, college- and university-level. A member and Chairman of various committees, a past Departmental Coordinator, Acting Head of Department and is the Immediate Past Dean, Faculty of Dental Sciences.   

Prof. Oluranti daCosta is happily married to Dr. V. A. daCosta, who is also a dentist, and is the mother to three wonderful children.

Blánaid Daly is Professor of Special Care Dentistry and Dean of Dental Affairs /Head of School at the School of Dental Science, Trinity College Dublin (TCD).

Blánaid graduated in Dentistry from TCD. She worked in the Irish Community and Hospital Dental Services and then moved to the UK to pursue higher training and joined the Dental School at King’s College London (KCL). While at King’s, she combined her academic interest in Dental Public Health (DPH) with the clinical specialty of Special Care Dentistry (SCD). She was course director for a Master’s programme in D.P.H. and the M.Sc. in Community Dental Practice. Her Ph.D. explored the oral health needs of homeless people and was informed by her work setting up and providing direct dental care services to homeless people in three London boroughs. Blánaid has always had a great interest in oral health promotion and was a co-founder of the Oral Health Promotion Research Group in 1992 with Richard Watt (UCL) and was President in 1999/2000.

Blánaid returned to TCD in 2016 as Professor of Special Care Dentistry and Head of the Department of Public & Child Dental Health.  Her overarching research and advocacy interests have remained the reduction of oral health inequalities, and widening access to dental care particularly amongst vulnerable groups and people living with disability. In 2019, she was a contributing author to the Lancet series on oral health that highlighted the global public health importance of oral diseases and the need for a radically different policy agenda to tackle this major public health problem. In 2020 she was appointed to the Lancet Commission on Global Oral Health Inequalities and was joint winner of the Aubrey Sheiham award for distinguished research in Dental Public Health from the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). As Dean of Dental Affairs since 2022, Blánaid is keen to ensure dental curricula are inclusive and equip graduates with the skills and competence to meet the oral health needs of the Irish population including those who are vulnerable and marginalised.  She is also a strong advocate for retention, participation and inclusion of women in academic dentistry and in STEM research. 

With more than 40 years of experience in higher education and student financial aid, Paul Garrard is one of the most well-known and in-demand educational debt management experts in the nation, especially in the health professions communities. He has extensive experience in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors of higher education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Samford University and an M.B.A. from the University of Georgia. Mr. Garrard works out of his home in Shepherdstown, WV.

He has worked as a consultant with ADEA for more than 10 years, providing updates on borrowing and repayment.

Dr. Antanious White is an educator, researcher and ADEA Senior Director of Student Engagement and Success with over a decade of experience advancing equity and inclusion in education and professional organizations. As a scholar, his work explores the intersectionality of race, gender and place-based identities, examining their impact on educational outcomes and health disparities while highlighting pathways of resilience.

Committed to advancing DEI, Dr. White has led innovative initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic barriers and promoting social justice in education. His teaching philosophy emphasizes racial equity, critical thinking and collaboration, fostering an inclusive classroom environment where students are encouraged to engage deeply with complex social issues.

Dr. White continues at ADEA to lead transformative efforts that advance diversity and inclusion in higher education. With a collaborative and solutions-driven approach, he is dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities and inspiring systemic change through education, research and DEI leadership.

Dr. Michael Harner has been with the University of Illinois for over 23 years. He joined the University of Illinois College of Dentistry’s (UIC COD) leadership team as the Associate Dean of Finance and Business Administration in 2015.

Dr. Harner holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, a master’s degree of Business Administration, a master’s degree of Art and a doctorate in Education. Dr. Harner’s role at UIC COD is responsible for overseeing state appropriations, tuition and fees, administrative operations, gifts and endowments and grants and community contracts. In his spare time, Dr. Harner enjoys spending time with his family and training for triathlons.

Jamie Hirshey serves Kansas City University (KCU) as Vice President of Human Resources and Joplin Campus Administration. She joined KCU, in January 2016, as its inaugural hire on the Joplin campus, where she played a crucial role in leading recruitment efforts that established the foundational faculty and staff team necessary for the campus to successfully launch.

Prior to her tenure at KCU, Ms. Hirshey spent 12 years in human resources leadership at Freeman Health System in Joplin, MO. Her extensive experience in health care administration has been instrumental in shaping her leadership at KCU.

Throughout her career, Ms. Hirshey has progressively assumed broader responsibilities, including recruitment and retention strategies, benefits administration, fostering institutional culture and inclusivity, enhancing employee engagement and recognition programs as well as overseeing comprehensive orientation, onboarding, professional development and performance management initiatives.

In her current role, she not only leads the university's human resources function, but also supports finance and operations at the Joplin campus, contributing to the overall strategic direction and operational excellence of KCU.

Ms. Hirshey earned her bachelor's degree from Missouri Southern State University and holds a master's degree in health care administration from Bellevue University. Her academic achievements complement her practical experience, enabling her to effectively navigate the complexities of higher education administration and health care management.

Dr. Marnie Oakley serves as the Dean at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (Pitt SMD). After graduating from Pitt SMD, in 1992, she served an active-duty, four-year tour as a Dental Officer in the United States Navy. Dr. Oakley was responsible for the development and implementation of Pitt SMD’s Comprehensive Care Program. She also served as the Site Visit Coordinator during the successful 2010 American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) site visit.

Dr. Oakley served as Chair of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Annual Session Planning Committee for two consecutive years, for which she received a Presidential Citation. As a graduate fellow of the ADEA’s Leadership Institute, she served in officer positions in several ADEA committees and groups. She is also a Senior Consultant for Academy of Advancing Leadership (AAL)—where she offers one-on-one consulting services and seminars on various leadership topics to academicians across the country. Dr. Oakley works extensively in various areas of leadership development that include creating a positive culture, leading difficult conversations, resolving conflict and managing change. As a proud alumna of the Berkeley Institute of Executive Coaching, she leverages her certification and experience to help executives discover and reveal the best versions of themselves.

Dr. Oakley maintains membership in numerous professional organizations, including the ADA, the Pennsylvania Dental Association, the Dental Society of Western Pennsylvania and Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

Dr. Oakley was awarded the 2024 Impact Award and was recognized as a 2024 Trailblazer in Health Care by City & State Pennsylvania.

Dr. Sophia Saeed is Associate Dean of Clinic Operations and Quality of Care at the University of New England College of Dental Medicine.  Previously, she served on faculty at the University of California, San Francisco; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; UTHealth Science Center School of Dentistry; and the UConn School of Dental Medicine.  She is a fellow of the American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists, a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Society, and serves as a site visitor for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and examiner for the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX).  Her major commitments with ADEA include serving as the Chair Elect of the Section on Clinic Administration and a member of the Task Force for Envisioning the Future of Oral Health Education (TF-ETFOHE). 

Dr. Suzie Bergman is President-elect of the American Association of Women Dentists. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Bergman is a Fellow of the TMJ Foundation, a global consortium and online fellowship program for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, where she serves as Selection Chair, Advisor and Honorary Program Faculty. She is a Visiting Research Scholar at Oregon Health Science University in the Department of Neurological Surgery as a Co-investigator in research surrounding the differential diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia and temporomandibular disorders. Dr. Bergman serves as a subject matter expert and consultant for Academic Health Associates, an Execudent Company. She is the U.S. Director of Dental Education for Immersify Education, an EdTech platform delivering education to dental and nursing schools through immersive experiences and augmented reality. She is a thought leader in the interprofessional education space with a focus on medical, dental and behavioral health integration and Dr. Bergman speaks internationally on this topic.

Dr. Bergman received her D.D.S. degree from West Virginia University School of Dentistry and holds advanced certificates in Orthodontics and Orofacial Pain.

Precious Ettah, D.D.S., M.M.Sc., joined ADEA in October 2024 as the new Director of Faculty Engagement and Research Analytics within the Office of Access, Success and Impact (ASI). Dr. Ettah brings a strong background in oral health care, public health, data analysis, and program management. In this role, she works closely with ADI leadership to design and manage workshops, training sessions, and activities that promote cross-cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity,  and inclusive excellence across the ADEA community. Additionally, Dr. Ettah oversees the data analytics function of ASI, producing critical datasets that inform strategies for DEIB operational and business initiatives.

Dr. Ettah has a wealth of professional experience in the dental field, including clinical practice as a general dentist and work in public and community health centers. She recently completed her dental public health residency at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, focusing on epidemiology, social determinants of health, program administration, and health policy. She previously completed her general practice residency at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC. Dr. Ettah holds a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Alabama and a D.D.S. degree from Howard University College of Dentistry. Additionally, Dr. Ettah earned her Master of Medical Science in Dental Education and a Certificate in Dental Public Health from Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Hiroe Ohyama is an Associate Professor and the Predoctoral Director of Operative Dentistry at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). Dr. Ohyama earned her D.D.S. degree from Tohoku University, School of Dentistry in Japan. After graduation, she completed clinical and research training at HSDM, where she obtained both a certificate in general dentistry and an M.Sc. degree. She then returned to Japan to pursue a Ph.D. in oral biology from Tokyo University, Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Ohyama joined the faculty of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences at HSDM in 2000, where she discovered a passion for teaching alongside her research endeavors. Her passion led her to pursue a D.M.D. at HSDM. This enhanced her ability to educate future dental professionals with a deeper understanding of the dental curriculum in the U.S., further advancing her career as a dental educator.

Dr. Ohyama is a dedicated educator and an accomplished clinician-scientist, serving as a role model in both domains. Dr. Ohyama has made substantial contributions to student-centered scholarly activities, with over 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has received numerous awards for her excellence in research, teaching and patient care, including the HSDM Distinguished Faculty Award, the HSDM Outstanding Faculty Award and the Excellence in Cosmetic Dentistry Award. Dr. Ohyama is nationally recognized as an excellent educator and received the ADEA/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Excellent Teaching Award, the ADEA Project Pool Grants and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Stephen H. Leeper Teaching Award.

Dr. Margaret Scarlett is a dentist, futurist and health outcomes leader. Dr. Scarlett transitioned to private practice and consulting after 23 years as a dental officer in the US Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and US Army. Her last assignment was to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Department of Health and Human Services, addressing the use of big data for health. 

A member of the American Dental Association Standards Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Dentistry, Dr. Scarlett was a leading contributor to the December 2022 ADA Whitepaper, “Overview of Artificial and Augmented Intelligence Uses in Dentistry.”  She continues to evaluate the scientific and ethical uses of AI, lecturing around the globe.  

Her career focus has been on health and overall health outcomes through health data to reduce the impact of chronic and infectious diseases. 

Jonathan Fansmith directs ACE’s efforts to engage federal policymakers on issues that impact colleges and universities and coordinates the government relations response of approximately 60 higher education associations in Washington, DC. His work involves representation before Congress, administrative agencies, and the federal courts. Fansmith’s writing has appeared in publications ranging from The Washington Post to The Journal of College and University Law, and he is a frequent speaker for association, academic, and corporate audiences.

Dr. York is a dentist by training and a public health practitioner by passion. Her professional roles include serving as the Assistant Dean of Extramural Clinics, the Hunterdon Endowed Chair for Dental Public Health and a Professor at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. York is a registered consultant with Management Solutions Consulting Group, Inc., a firm that works with the Health Resources and Services Administration’s HIV/AIDS Bureau Ryan White Program. Her scholarly focus is expanding access to oral health care for marginalized and vulnerable populations in community-based settings. As the Principal Investigator (PI) or the co-PI, she has led and contributed to numerous clinical practice initiatives focusing on enhancing access to care and expanding workforce capacity for underserved populations. Under her direction, the program has adopted trauma-informed dental care practices that serve as a nationally recognized model program of oral care for people with HIV.

Sara Bendoraitis is the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Learning at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). In this role, Sara champions the importance of a diverse and inclusive environment and leads the creation of strategies to foster a strong sense of belonging and create a welcoming, safe, equitable, and inclusive culture in academic dentistry. 

Sara was formerly with OPTICA, where she was Director of Membership Program Development. From 2011 to 2018, she was Director of Programming, Outreach and Advocacy at American University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion. She began her work at American University as Director of their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Resource Center in 2007 till 2011. Sara has an M.S. in Education Administration from Texas A&M University and a BA in Women’s Studies and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. 

Sara has presented at national conferences on student identity support and advocacy, gender-neutral housing best practices, academic and student affairs collaboration, assessing Safe Zone programs, leadership, unconscious bias and women’s and gender centers. Sara also been a consultant for various federal government agencies, national and international non-profits, higher education institutions, and the United States Naval Academy. 

She has served as a board member the NASPA Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women, a NASPA Regional Representative, the Education, Advocacy, and Outreach Chair and Co-Chair for the Consortium of Higher Education Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally Resource Professionals, and a member of the Council on the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in Higher Education Board of Directors. In her spare time, Sara can be found spending time with her family as well as running the HY-Swap, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing and circulating items in good condition within the community, providing savings for local families and reducing waste.

Sarah Jackson is the Head of Education and Professional Relations for Curaden USA Inc. For more than 25 years, she has held various roles within the dental team, including dental assistant, front office staff and dental hygienist. Ms. Jackson is a Professor Emeritus at Eastern Washington University, where she taught for 20 years and ultimately served as a tenured full Professor and Program Director. She is a researcher, published author, international speaker and active leader in the dental hygiene association.

As a health and wellness advocate, Ms. Jackson co-founded the Abundant Life Wellness Hub to help other professionals live abundant, healthy lives. She strives to inspire positive change among oral health care providers worldwide. As a certified instructor with Curaden Academy, Ms. Jackson is dedicated to re-invigorating homecare education and disease prevention while advancing the mission of iTOP. She aims to empower dental professionals to elevate their roles as health coaches, deliver exceptional oral hygiene education and make a meaningful impact on patients’ oral and overall health. 

Laura Ebert has over 15 years of experience in the health care industry. She joined Dentsply Sirona as Head of Digital Platform Programs in February 2021 to lead the digital and organizational transformation of the company’s equipment, software and cloud platform business. In her current role as Vice President Operatory Solutions at Dentsply Sirona, she is responsible for the company’s Treatment Center, Instruments, Infection Control and Dental-dedicated Magnetic Resonance Imaging businesses.

Previously, Ms. Ebert spent more than 10 years in strategy consulting at Siemens AG with a focus on health care and digital transformation. Her most recent role was Vice President for the health care industry. She completed several longer term international work assignments in the United States, Netherlands and Denmark. Ms. Ebert holds a degree in Economics from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich and regularly holds educational lectures on innovations in health care at academic and business-related events.

Dr. Satya Nadimpalli is an Endodontist turned Product Marketing Manager at Komet USA, bringing a unique blend of clinical expertise and business acumen to the dental industry. With a master’s degree in Business Administration from Babson College, majoring in Business Analytics, she leads the strategy, launch and lifecycle management of Komet's Endodontic portfolio in the United States.

With years of experience practicing clinical dentistry in India and a deep understanding of global dental markets, Dr. Nadimpalli bridges the gap between innovative product development and customer needs. At Komet USA, she’s known for spearheading high-impact product launches like BioSeal, BioRepair and FQ, and for building key relationships with thought leaders in the endodontic space.

Her passion lies in combining data-driven decision-making with real-world dental insights to create solutions that empower clinicians and improve patient outcomes.

Jonathan Fansmith directs ACE’s efforts to engage federal policymakers on issues that impact colleges and universities and coordinates the government relations response of approximately 60 higher education associations in Washington, DC. His work involves representation before Congress, administrative agencies, and the federal courts. Fansmith’s writing has appeared in publications ranging from The Washington Post to The Journal of College and University Law, and he is a frequent speaker for association, academic, and corporate audiences.

Bill Dauster is a senior counsel for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Bill has served on United States Senate, White House, and campaign staffs since 1986. He was Deputy Chief of Staff for Senate Leader Harry Reid; Staff Director or Deputy Staff Director of the Budget, Labor and Human Resources, Finance, and HELP committees,; and Deputy Director of the White House National Economic Council. Bill has taught at Pennsylvania University's Penn in Washington Program and at American University's Washington Colelge of Law.