Karen P. West, D.M.D., M.P.H.
Dr. Karen Pierce West is a nationally respected leader in oral health education whose career reflects a sustained commitment to academic excellence, leadership and service. As the first woman to serve as ADEA President and CEO, she brings decades of experience shaping academic institutions and advancing the oral health education community. Prior to joining ADEA, Dr. West served as Dean of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine where she led initiatives focused on innovation, faculty development and student success. Her academic career includes faculty and administrative leadership roles at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, as well as early service in the Department of Community Dentistry at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University, where she later advanced to Director. She began her career as a private practitioner in Kentucky.
Dr. West received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and a Master of Public Health in Health Administration from the University of South Carolina School of Public Health. She is the past Chair of the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has served as a consultant to international accrediting bodies. In 2023, Dr. West was recognized as a Social Impact Woman to Watch Finalist and a Corporate and Social Responsibility & Diversity Awards Finalist. Prior to assuming the presidency of ADEA, she served the Association as Chair of the ADEA Council of Faculties and the ADEA Council of Deans.
At ADEA, Dr. West has been instrumental in advancing initiatives that strengthen interdisciplinary education, promote access and leadership development and enhance workforce readiness across oral health education. She has established strategic task forces to help future-proof oral health education and support the Association’s long-term organizational sustainability. Dr. West has also represented ADEA internationally, contributing to the launch of the African Education Dental Association and expanding global partnerships with leading organizations.
Dr. West is the author of more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, including the most widely read article in the Journal of Dental Education. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to bridging clinical practice, education, research and policy to address complex health care challenges, with an emphasis on community engagement and global partnerships to advance future-ready oral health education.