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.

Dr. Patty Xirau-Probert is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Involvement for the University of Florida College of Dentistry. With a Ph.D. in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, she has expertise in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, emotion regulation and community engagement initiatives. She has developed programs at the University of Florida related to well-being, resiliency, effective communication, leadership development and stress management. She supports curriculum development, strategic planning, community outreach and other initiatives focused on student success and the institutional mission. Her teaching experience includes an inter-professional biopsychosocial education course for health professions, wellness practices and crisis intervention/suicide prevention for University of Florida health faculty, staff and students. She is trained as an educator in Implicit Bias and Crucial Conversations. Along with colleagues from other health science center colleges, she facilitates a course on the science of well-being and happiness among health professionals- we call it the Happy Course, and it is one of her favorite projects to date!

Dr. Isabel Rambob is the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, the Immediate President of the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) and a Career Development Strategist. She is also a prolific speaker who has lectured in the USA, Europe, Asia and South America. 

Dr. Isabel Rambob received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the State University of Feira de Santana, Brazil. She completed a one-year program in advanced education in comprehensive dentistry at New York University College of Dentistry then completed a one-year residency program in advanced education in general dentistry at Howard University College of Dentistry. Dr.Rambob moved to University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry after 15 years at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry where she served in innumerous roles including Co-Director of Interprofessional Education, Vice-President of the Faculty Senate, Behavioral Dentistry Course Director and Assistant Director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program. 

Dr. Isabel Rambob is very passionate about teaching, mentoring, coaching, collaborating, and volunteering. She is an avid knowledge seeker who believes that commitment to professional development is one of the keys to professional success. 

Dr. Perez serves as the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Diversity & Inclusion, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. 

In addition to his academic and administrative responsibilities, He is a member of the Diversity Leadership Council at Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences and Member of the American Dental Association Board of Trustees' Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Dr. Perez has been an active member of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and has served as Chair of the ADEA Section on Student Affairs and Financial Aid. Currently, he holds the position of Councilor for the ADEA Section on PRIDE, Promoting Respect for Identity Dignity and Expression, and Chair-elect of the ADEA Leadership Institute Alumni Association Board. Dr. Perez has several research interests related to improving dental students' experience during their academic years.