ADEA Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Faculty Leadership Award
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For Students
- ADEA/Haleon Dental Hygiene Scholarship
- ADEA/Crest Oral-B Scholarships for Dental Hygiene Students Pursuing Academic Careers
- ADEA/Crest Oral-B Scholarships for Predoctoral Dental Students Pursuing Academic Careers
- ADEA Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Student Leadership Award
- ADEA/Haleon Preventive Dentistry Scholarships
- ADEA/MouthWatch Patti DiGangi Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Innovation
- ADEA/MouthWatch Predoctoral Dental Student Scholarship for Innovation
- ADEA/Sigma Phi Alpha Linda DeVore Scholarship
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For Dental Educators
- ADEA/AAL Chairs and Academic Administrators Management Program Scholarship
- ADEA/AAL Institute for Teaching and Learning Scholarship
- ADEA/Bell Leadership Institute Achievers Program Scholarships
- ADEA Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Faculty Leadership Award
- ADEA Council of Students, Residents and Fellows/Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Junior Faculty Award
- ADEA/Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Excellence in Teaching Award
- ADEA Enid A. Neidle Scholar-in-Residence Program
- ADEA/Gillette Hayden Memorial Foundation Tuition Scholarship for Early Career Professional Development
- ADEA Leadership Institute Alumni Association Award to Honor Jack Bresch
- ADEA Leadership Institute Phase V Leadership Development Tuition Scholarship
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For Leadership Institute Fellows
- ADEA/AADOCR/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Dr. Dominick P. DePaola Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute
- ADEA/ADEAGies Foundation Drs. Connie L. and Richard R. Drisko Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute
- ADEA/Foundation for Endodontics Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute
- ADEA/American College of Dentists Dr. Jerome Bright Miller Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute
- ADEA/Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc./National Dental Association Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute
Purpose
The ADEA Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Faculty Leadership Award recognizes faculty members at U.S. and Canadian dental or allied dental education institutions who further Dr. Sinkford’s passionate dedication to academia and her commitment to improving access to oral health care and improving oral health outcomes for all. The award is intended to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders in oral health education.
This award is supported by a gift from The Leonard and Valachovic Fund.
Overview
Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford was a trailblazer and visionary in dental education, a lifelong supporter of dental research mentoring and improving oral health outcomes for all communities.. As the first woman dean of a U.S. dental school, Dr. Sinkford’s pioneering efforts empowered women and men from all backgrounds to advance to the pinnacle of their careers in dentistry, including deanships, research, service and academia. Dr. Sinkford’s stellar academic, research and service leadership are the hallmarks of her professional career. She was a persistent advocate for ensuring access to dental education, expanding pathways and opening doors for others.. She was a champion for access to oral health care and improving health outcomes for all. Her long career as a leader for change has had a resounding impact and caused transformation in the dental education community and beyond.
This award recognizes a faculty recipient who honors Dr. Sinkford’s legacy through their work toward improving access to oral health care.
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 oral health education. This annual award and its recipient will support Dr. Sinkford’s belief in lifelong learning and passing the gift of compassion, integrity and the value of service, research and leadership to future generations to inspire and empower new leaders in dental education and allied dental education.
The award recipient will receive:
- A monetary award of $10,000,
- Free registration to the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, where the awardee will be announced,
- An inscribed crystal award and
- An announcement in the Bulletin of Dental Education newsletter and on ADEA’s website.
Application Information
Eligibility Requirements
Self-nominations are accepted. An applicant must:
- Hold a full-time faculty position for at least 10 years at an ADEA Member Institution and
- Hold an active ADEA Individual Membership.
In addition to the above requirements, ADEA will consider a nominee’s:
- Meaningful contributions in teaching and research;
- Evidence of a commitment to expand access to care and improve health outcomes, whether through research or other contributions;
- Demonstrated service to community; and
- A record of leadership in dental education, allied dental education and/or organized dentistry.
Application Process Checklist
The following items must be submitted by Sept. 10, 2026 using the ADEA online application process:
- A one-page narrative (no more than 500 words) demonstrating how they exemplify Dr. Sinkford’s commitment to improving access to oral health care and oral health outcomes for all,
- A current curriculum vitae,
- A letter of support from a supervisor, college dean, program director or department chair (only one nomination per institution) and
- A letter of endorsement from nominee’s Dean (for Predoctoral and Advanced Dental Education programs) or Program Director (For Allied Dental Education programs).
Nominee applications for this scholarship will use the information in ADEA profiles. Please ensure profiles are updated by going to adea.org/myadea.
De-identified applicant information will be used to improve scholarships at ADEA and may be published. Identified information (e.g., biographies) of successful winners will be published on the ADEA website, shared with your home institution, and may be used in ADEA promotional material. By applying to this scholarship, you agree that you have read and understand how your information could be used.
Application Deadline
All application materials must be received by Sept. 10, 2026.
Notification Date and Award Announcement
Scholarship recipients and applicants not receiving awards will be notified by December 2026.
Awards will be announced during the 2027 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, March 13–16, 2027, in Chicago, IL.
Participation Standards
ADEA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic as prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law.
All ADEA stakeholders (members, vendors, affiliate organizations or guests) who wish to participate in ADEA’s in-person or virtual events must affirm that they will abide by the ADEA Code of Conduct for Meetings, Conferences, Events, and Virtual Communities as a condition of participation.
2026
Dr. Esther Kuyinu, UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
2025
Dr. Kady Rawal, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
2024
Dr. Christophe Bedos McGill, University Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences
2023
Dr. Carlos Smith, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
Questions
For any questions, please contact the ADEA Office of Learning at ProfessionalDevelopment@adea.org.