The ADEA Distinguished Service Award recognizes significant contributions to ADEA and its members through teaching, research and service.

The Chair of the ADEA Board of Directors presents these citations to leaders who have demonstrated exceptional service to the Association and the dental education community.

Under the leadership of Enid A. Neidle, ADEA President from 1985-6, the Association adopted its policy of promoting the advancement of women in dental education. The program offers a unique opportunity for a dental educator to concentrate on issues affecting women faculty.

Learn more about the ADEA Enid A. Neidle Scholar-in-Residence Program for Women.

Dr. Thomas F. Nowlin served in several roles within the Council of Sections and was well known for his collegiality, positive attitude, creativity, honor, ethics and dedication to the craft of dental education. This award honors his memory, contributions, and leadership.

Learn more about the ADEA Thomas F. Nowlin Award for Best Performance by a Section. 

This award provides support to educators to enhance teaching efforts. It is supported by an educational grant from the Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Learn more about the ADEA Colgate-Palmolive Co. Excellence in Teaching Award. 

ADEA/Colgate-Palmolive Co./National Dental Association Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute

The Sinkford scholarship provides the opportunity for a dental educator who is closely aligned with the promotion of equity, diversity and inclusion to participate in the ADEA Leadership Institute. Jeanne C. Sinkford, D.D.S., Ph.D., was the first woman to become a dean of a U.S. dental school (Howard University College of Dentistry) and a renowned scholar and champion of the advancement of women in dental education, the dental profession and the medical sciences.

Learn more about the ADEA/Colgate-Palmolive Co./National Dental Association Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Scholarship in the ADEA Leadership Institute.

ADEA LIAA Award to Honor Jack Bresch

This ADEA Leadership Institute Alumni Association (LIAA) award honors the memory of John Edward “Jack” Bresch and the role he played for ADEA and its members, both in advocacy and leadership.

Learn more about the ADEA LIAA Award to Honor Jack Bresch.

ADEA/ADEAGies Foundation^® Drs. Connie L. and Richard R. Drisko Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute

The Drisko Scholarship provides the opportunity annually for a mid-career dental school faculty member who has shown evidence of leadership potential to participate in the ADEA Leadership Institute. Funding for the scholarship is provided through the generosity of Drs. Drisko. 

Learn more about the ADEA/ADEAGies Foundation Drs. Connie L. and Richard R. Drisko Scholarship in the ADEA Leadership Institute. 

ADEA Leadership Institute Phase V Leadership Development Tuition Scholarship—ADEA Emerging Leaders Program

This scholarship was created to enable a junior faculty member (up to three years of experience) to participate in the ADEA Emerging Leaders Program. The awardee was nominated by an ADEA Leadership Institute alumnus or alumna.  

Learn more about the ADEA Leadership Institute Phase V Leadership Development Tuition Scholarship: ADEA Emerging Leaders Program. 

This fellowship provides the opportunity for an allied dental educator to focus on a broad range of issues affecting allied dental education; for example, policy, research, budget and finance, faculty development and advancement, legislation and gender and workforce issues. It is supported by an educational grant from the Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Learn more about the ADEA/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Allied Dental Educators Fellowship.

This award provides support to educators to enhance teaching efforts. It is supported by an educational grant from the Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Learn more about the ADEA/ADEA Council of Students, Residents, and Fellows/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Junior Faculty Award.

This scholarship supports professional development activities for faculty of color in dental and allied dental education in the early stages of their careers.  

Learn more about the ADEA Faculty of Color Tuition Scholarships for Professional Development: ADEA Emerging Leaders Program. 

The Olav Alvares Award was named in honor of Dr. Olav Alvares, Journal of Dental Education editor from 2000 to 2009, to encourage junior scholars (assistant professors, instructors, residents, students and staff) to conduct and publish outstanding research.

ADEA/GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Preventive Dentistry Scholarships support predoctoral dental students who have demonstrated academic excellence in preventive dentistry. 

Learn more about the ADEA/GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Preventive Dentistry Scholarships.

These scholarships support dental hygiene students who are pursuing education beyond an associate’s degree and who have an interest in an academic career.

Learn more about the  ADEA/Crest Oral-B Scholarships for Dental Hygiene Students Pursuing Academic Careers.

These scholarships support dental students who demonstrate firm commitments to becoming dental educators.

Learn more about the ADEA/Crest Oral-B Scholarships for Predoctoral Dental Students Pursuing Academic Careers. 

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA)/Sigma Phi Alpha Linda DeVore Scholarship recognizes the memory and the 30-year dental education career of Linda Rubinstein DeVore. Professor DeVore was active in dental hygiene education, scholarship and public service. She served as President of the American Association of Dental Schools (now ADEA) in 1994, and President of the Supreme Chapter of Sigma Phi Alpha, the national honorary society of the dental hygiene profession, from 1997–98.

Learn more about the ADEA/Sigma Phi Alpha Linda DeVore Scholarship. 

ADEA Chapter of the Year

The ADEA Chapter of the Year Award acknowledges the extraordinary efforts and performance of a local ADEA Chapter as it exemplifies the values and mission of both ADEA and the ADEA Council of Students, Residents and Fellows; reflects strong member growth and retention; produces quality chapter activities and programming; and works to be inclusive of all members of their school community.

Best New ADEA Chapter Award

The Best New ADEA Chapter Award goes to an ADEA Chapter that began three years ago or less and exemplifies the values and mission of both ADEA and the ADEA Council of Students, Residents and Fellows, reflecting active chapter growth and producing at least one quality chapter activity or program throughout the academic year.

ADEA Chapter Discover Your Pathway Award

To honor the special theme of 2020 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, “Discover Your Pathway,” we present this award to the chapter whose programming best represents the ideas shared through the 2020 Annual Session theme.

ADEA Chapter Award for Vision

The Award for Vision goes to the chapter(s) who, over the past year, articulated the pursuit of contemporary ideas or a set of ideals, perspectives, or solutions to create broader meaning for dental education and effectively bridge the present with the future of oral health.

ADEA Chapter Award for Innovation

The Award for Innovation goes to the chapter(s) who over the past year facilitated the creation, change, evolution, and application of ideas that bring new value to our profession or industry and enhance oral health through dental education.

ADEA Chapter Award for Achievement

The Award for Achievement goes to the chapter(s) who, over the past year, achieved socially commendable actions that make a substantial contribution to oral health and dental education.

ADEA Chapter Award for Growth

The Award for Growth goes to the chapter(s) who, over the past year, focused on their internal growth, improving chapter membership, quantity and quality of events hosted, and/or hosting fundraisers for the students and faculty alike.

Distinguished Chapter Award—Gold Level Chapter

Gold Level Chapters are registered ADEA chapters who have hosted six or more chapter events throughout the academic year, have student involvement from all academic levels, and have chapter members who participated in ADEA national events such as the ADEA Capitol Hill Day, ADEA Advanced Dental Education eForum, ADEA Diversity Workshop, ADEA Fall Meetings, ADEA Student Diversity Leadership Program, and the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition.

Distinguished Chapter Award—Silver Level Chapter

Silver Level Chapters are registered ADEA chapters who have hosted three to five chapter events throughout the academic year, have student involvement from all academic levels, and have chapter members who participated in ADEA national events such as the ADEA Capitol Hill Day, ADEA Advanced Dental Education eForum, ADEA Diversity Workshop, ADEA Fall Meetings, ADEA Student Diversity Leadership Program, and the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition.

Distinguished Chapter Award—Bronze Level Chapter

Bronze Level Chapters are registered ADEA chapters who have hosted one to two chapter events throughout the academic year and have chapter members who participated in ADEA national events such as the ADEA Capitol Hill Day, ADEA Advanced Dental Education eForum, ADEA Diversity Workshop, ADEA Fall Meetings, ADEA Student Diversity Leadership Program, and the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition.