Homecoming Weekend Events Begin: Friday, October 8th!

On Friday, October 8th, the university will host its first Homecoming Weekend events since the onset of the pandemic. The long-awaited celebrations begin at 5:00 p.m. with a festival that offers free food, carnival games, inflatables, and music. The parade begins at 6:00 p.m., and a fireworks display will be held at 8:00 p.m. Get more information about these events and other activities on the Homecoming Weekend website.

At this year's Ohio Dental Association (ODA) Annual Session, the Callahan Celebration of Excellence included the presentation of the ODA’s highest honor, the Joseph P. Crowley Distinguished Dentist Award, which is given to Ohio's dental professionals and others who have made exemplary efforts on behalf of the profession.The following College of Dentistry alumni received Distinguished Dentist Awards for 2020 and 2021.

Mark Bronson, DDS: Dr. Bronson is a graduate of the Class of 1991, a general dentist in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a past president of the ODA and the Cincinnati Dental Society; Kenneth Clemens, DDS: Dr. Clemens is a graduate of the Class of 1954, a general dentist in Lima, Ohio, a longtime member of the Dental Alumni Society and a past president of its Board of Governors; and Thomas Paumier, DDS: Dr. Paumier is a graduate of the Class of 1987, a general dentist in Canton, Ohio, and a past president of the ODA and the Stark County Dental Society.

The college's Dental Alumni Society presented its annual awards at a reception held in conjunction with the Ohio Dental Association's Annual Session. Three outstanding alumnae were honored with the following awards.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Jeanne Nicolette, DDS, for her service and leadership in the advancement of dentistry and dental health. Jessica Kile, DDS, received the Young Alumni Award for her achievements that enhance perceptions of the dental profession and provide service to the local community. Denise Bowers, PhD, was honored with the Dental Hygiene Alumni Award that recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the dental hygiene profession.

Dr. Brian Foster, an Associate Professor in the Division of Biosciences, was recently selected as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR), which is the leading professional community for multi-disciplinary scientists who advance dental, oral, and craniofacial research.

ODA Foundation Awards Dental Student Scholarships  

The Ohio Dental Association (ODA) Foundation recently awarded scholarships to six College of Dentistry students. Those who receive scholarship support must have engaged in volunteer activities, have financial need, and demonstrate academic excellence. Most recipients are active members of the American Student Dental Association and are committed to continued involvement in organized dentistry.

Throughout 2021, ODA scholarships were given to the following College of Dentistry students:

Savanna Craig, D4; Amber Dalal, D3; Mark Finkelstein, D3; Natalia Hagee, D3; Joseph Linser, D2; and Marsha Owca, D3.

The ODA Foundation's mission is to improve the oral health of all Ohioans, to enhance the dental profession throughout the state, and to make a difference for future dentists in Ohio by awarding annual grants and scholarships.

On September 27, Ms. Sofia Closson joined the college as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Director of the DentPath program. Her education includes a BA degree in sociology from Northeastern University; an MA degree in Gender and Cultural Studies from Simmons University; and an MBA from Capital University.

Ms. Closson served most recently as the Assistant Director of Adult, Graduate, and Seminary Admissions at Capital University. In that role, she worked to increase the diversity of the applicant pool and to create new avenues of recruitment for the university’s MBA program.

As the college's Assistant Director of Admissions, Ms. Closson will focus on recruiting dental and dental hygiene students from underserved and underrepresented populations. As the Director of the DentPath program, she will support the development of innovative experiences to help prepare DentPath students for the college's pre-doctoral program.

Mr. Timothy Crossin joined the college as a Senior Business Intelligence Analyst on August 30. With more than 10 years of experience in data analytics, project management, and process improvement, he has particular expertise in using Lean Six Sigma principles to extract value from data to guide well-informed decisions.