ADEA/AADOCR/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Dr. Dominick P. DePaola Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute

Purpose

A generous commitment from the Colgate-Palmolive Co. to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has established the ADEA/AADOCR/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Dr. Dominick P. DePaola Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute fellowship. 

This fellowship provides an academic dental institution faculty member who has shown potential for leadership with the opportunity to participate in the ADEA Leadership Institute. The fellowship is in memory of Dominick DePaola, D.D.S., Ph.D., who, for nearly four decades, was a leader in dental education, research, patient care and academic administration.

Dr. DePaola received his dental degree from the New York University College of Dental Medicine and Ph.D. in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During his career in academic dentistry, he served as Dean of three dental schools: the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School; the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School; and the Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry. He was also President and Chief Executive Officer of the Forsyth Institute, an independent research organization. He was President of ADEA and of the American Association of Dental Research.

Dr. DePaola received the ADEA Presidential Citation Award in 2003, the ADEA Distinguished Service Award in 2005, and the ADEAGies Foundation’s William J. Gies Award for Outstanding Achievement – Dental Educator in 2009. During his career, Dr. DePaola published over 80 scientific articles and textbook chapters, edited two books and gave over 1,000 lectures in the United States and internationally.

Overview

The DePaola Scholar receives a $15,000 stipend for tuition and fees for his or her participation in the ADEA Leadership Institute, with the goal of preparing for a leadership position in an academic dental institution.

Eligibility Requirements

An applicant must:

• Be a full-time member of a dental school faculty.
• Demonstrate recognizable leadership potential.
• Be an ADEA Individual Member.
• Be a member of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research.
• Your application to this scholarship will use the information in your ADEA profile. Please ensure your profile is updated by going to adea.org/myadea.
• All ADEA program participants or scholarship recipients will be required to agree to comply with the ADEA Code of Conduct for Meetings, Conferences, Events and Virtual Communities, which is available on the ADEA website.

Applicants must submit the ADEA Leadership Institute’s application materials in a timely manner, be selected to attend the ADEA Leadership Institute, and have their dean’s support to cover the costs of participating in the ADEA Leadership Institute above the amount of the award. View full details about the ADEA Leadership Institute’s programs on the ADEA website. The completed application must be signed by the applicant’s dental school dean.

Application Process Checklist

Using the ADEA online application process, applicants must submit an application by Sept. 15, 2025 for the ADEA Leadership Institute and indicate an interest in being selected as the ADEA/AADOCR/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Dr. Dominick P. DePaola Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute.

The ADEA Leadership Institute application requires the following:

1. Two letters of recommendation from professional colleagues.
2. A signed letter of recommendation from the dean of the applicant’s dental school, stating how the applicant’s participation will benefit the applicant and institution.
3. A current curriculum vitae.

The dean of the applicant’s dental school agrees to pay the fellow’s full salary and benefits during the scholarship year and to support the fellow’s travel and personal expenses associated with participation in the ADEA Leadership Institute, including airfare, ground transportation, lodging and meals.

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. 15, 2025.

Notification Date and Award Announcement

Scholarship recipients and applicants not receiving awards will be notified by Dec. 5, 2025.

Awards will be announced during the 2026 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, March 21–24, 2026, in Montréal, Canada.