Awards
2026 ADEA Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships
Presented by the American Dental Education Association during the 2026 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition.
Each year, ADEA recognizes achievement and distinction among its members. The following dental educators, researchers and students are being honored.
For more information about ADEA scholarships, awards and fellowships, please visit adea.org/awards.
The 2027 awards cycle will open in August 2026.
The ADEA Distinguished Service Award recognizes significant contributions to ADEA and its members through teaching, research and service.
2026 Award Recipient
- George W. Taylor, D.M.D., Dr.P.H.
Professor, Preventive and Restorative Dental Science
University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry
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.
2026 Award Recipients
- Dr. Ellen Beck University of California, San Diego
- Ms. Kim D'Abreu Diversity Dimensions
- Dr. Brhan Eskinder University of Michigan School of Dentistry
- Dr. Marita Rohr Inglehart University of Michigan School of Dentistry
- Ms. Pattie Katcher University of Michigan School of Dentistry
- Dr. Kenneth May University of Michigan School of Dentistry
- Dr. Keith Mays University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
- Dr. Laurie McCauley University of Michigan
- Dr. Dennis Mitchell Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
- Mr. Oliver Murdock Jr. American Dental Education Association
- Dr. Vidya Ramaswamy University of Michigan School of Dentistry
- Dr. Jacques Nör University of Michigan School of Dentistry
- Dr. Leo E. Rouse Howard University College of Dentistry
- Dr. Carlos Smith Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
- Dr. Sonya G. Smith American Dental Education Association
- Dr. Lisa Tedesco Emory University
- Dr. Marilyn Woolfolk University of Michigan School of Dentistry
2026 Award Recipients
- Dr. Carlos Smith Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
- Dr. Nikola Angelov UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston
- Dr. Mary Anne Melo University of Maryland School of Dentistry
Through this award, the faculty recipient who exemplifies Dr. Sinkford’s beliefs and values will influence and encourage others to model Dr. Sinkford’s contributions to dental education. This award is supported by a gift from The Leonard and Valachovic Fund.
2026 Award Recipient
- Dr. Esther Kuyinu UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
Learn more about the ADEA Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Faculty Leadership Award.
This award provides the opportunity for a dental educator to concentrate and conduct research on issues affecting women faculty and develop leadership skills.
2026 Award Recipient
- Dr. Caroline Sawicki University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry
Learn more about the ADEA Enid A. Neidle Scholar-in-Residence Program.
2026 Award Recipient
- Ms. Emily Ludwig Old Dominion University
2026 Award Recipient
- Dr. Erinne Kennedy Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine
2026 Award Recipient
- Dr. Wellington Rody Jr. University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
This award award is designed to be used to enhance an outstanding junior faculty member's teaching, research or service efforts.
2026 Award Recipient
- Dr. Zaid Badr Marquette University School of Dentistry
2026 Award Recipient
- Dr. Cristina Vidal University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics
2026 Award Recipients
- Dr. Rinku Saini University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
- Dr. James Harrison University of Louisville School of Dentistry
This award supports dental educators who demonstrate exemplary standards and promote excellence in dental education.
2026 Award Recipient
- Dr. Ram Vaderhobli University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry
Learn more about the ADEA/Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Excellence in Teaching Award.
This award provide the opportunity for a dental educator with demonstrated interest and work in equity and diversity to participate in the ADEA Leadership Institute.
2026 Award Recipient
- Dr. Salma Elwazeer Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine
These scholarships support dental hygiene students who are pursuing education beyond an associate’s degree and who have an interest in an academic career.
2026 Award Recipients
- Ms. Stephanie Bettis Old Dominion University
- Ms. Lejini Roy UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
Learn more about the ADEA/Crest Oral-B Scholarships for Dental Hygiene Students Pursuing Academic Careers.
These scholarships support predoctoral dental students who demonstrate firm commitments to becoming dental educators.
2026 Award Recipients
- Mr. Denerick Simpson High Point University Workman School of Dental Medicine
- Mr. Jonathan Banks University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
Learn more about the ADEA/Crest Oral-B Scholarships for Predoctoral Dental Students Pursuing Academic Careers.
2026 Award Recipient
- Ms. Chelsi Laing University of New England - Westbrook College of Health Professions
Learn more about the ADEA/Haleon Dental Hygiene Scholarship
This award support predoctoral dental students who have demonstrated academic excellence in preventive dentistry.
2026 Award Recipients
- Mr. Alex Matthews Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
- Ms. Abigail Brewer The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
- Ms. Anny Yang University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry
- Mr. Dylan Holder University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry
- Dr. Aminollah Khormali University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry
- Ms. Peyton Maccarone University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
- Ms. Christina Xu Harvard School of Dental Medicine
- Ms. Whittley Deleveaux Howard University College of Dentistry
- Ms. Neeku Amanat University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry
- Ms. Priyanka Prajapati University of Washington School of Dentistry
- Mr. Harsh Chheda Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
- Ms. Anna Lubitz Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Learn more about the ADEA/Haleon Preventive Dentistry Scholarships.
This scholarship is awarded to a dental hygiene student who expresses the desire to transform oral health through leadership and innovative care delivery.
2026 Award Recipient
- Mr. Gregory Guyumdzhyan Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Boston
Learn more about the ADEA/MouthWatch Patti DiGangi Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Innovation.
This award supports a full-time student pursuing a career in dentistry who demonstrates professional excellence and strives to make a difference in the profession of dentistry.
2026 Award Recipient
- Mr. Arshia Sabet University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry
Learn more about the ADEA/MouthWatch Predoctoral Dental Student Scholarship for Innovation.
This award supports an individual studying allied dental education at the baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degree level.
2026 Award Recipient
- Ms. Emily-Marie Roberts University of Alberta Faculty of Dentistry
Learn more about the ADEA/Sigma Phi Alpha Linda DeVore Scholarship.
To be announced
To be announced