Legislative
ADEA Legislative Advisory Committee
On behalf of ADEA members, the House of Delegates and the Board of Directors, the ADEA Legislative Advisory Committee (LAC) provides advice and counsel to ADEA on legislative and regulatory issues and priorities.
The ADEA LAC recommends advocacy actions based upon legislative and regulatory priorities that have been approved by the ADEA Board of Directors, covering four broad categories: dental, craniofacial, and biomedical research, education and training, access to and equity in care and infrastructure and workforce. To that end, the ADEA LAC promotes statutory improvements and funding for programs that improve the nation's oral health, advanced dental education and dental and craniofacial research, reduce oral health inequities and increased access to oral health care.
ADEA LAC members serve staggered three-year terms. Position openings on the LAC are advertised through the nominations process established by the ADEA House of Delegates and appointed by the ADEA President and CEO on approval by the Board of Directors.
2026-27 Committee Members
Melanie Mayberry, D.D.S., M.S., HCM
Committee Chair
Division Director
Practice Essentials and Interprofessional Education
University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
Lauren Gritzer, D.D.S., M.P.H.
Dental Public Health Resident
University of California, San Francisco
Jeffery Hicks, D.D.S.
Professor
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Melanie Simmer-Beck, R.D.H., Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Department of Dental Public Health and Behavioral Science
Director
Students in Training, in Academia, Health and Research (STAHR) Scholars–Dentistry
University of Missouri—Kansas City School of Dentistry
Ana López Fuentes, D.M.D., M.P.H.
Professor and Former Dean
University of Puerto Rico
School of Dental Medicine
Orpheus Triplett, D.D.S.
Associate Dean
Extramural Clinical Education and Community Service
University of Tennessee Health Science, College of Dentistry
Cheyanne Warren, D.D.S., M.S.
Dental Therapy Program Director
Skagit Valley College
Zachary Brian, D.M.D., M.H.A.
Associate Professor
Director, Dentistry in Service to Community Program
Director, Program for Oral Health Policy
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Parker Norman, D.M.D., M.L.
Pediatric Dental Resident
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Adams School of Dentistry
Karen P. West, D.M.D., M.P.H.
President and CEO
American Dental Education Association
Ex Officio
ADEA Board of Directors Representatives
Cherae Farmer-Dixon, D.D.S., M.S.P.H.
Chair, ADEA Board of Directors
Herminio Perez, D.M.D., Ed.D., M.B.A.
Chair-elect, ADEA Board of Directors
ADEA Staff Liaison
Hilary Malawer, J.D., M.S.
Chief Advocacy Officer
MalawerH@adea.org