ADEA Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Student 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
- ADEA/ADEAGies Foundation Dr. Patricia L. Blanton Leadership Development Fund Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute
Questions
For any questions, please contact the ADEA Office of Learning at ProfessionalDevelopment@adea.org.
Purpose
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is pleased to announce the 2026 ADEA Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Student Leadership Award honoring Dr. Sinkford’s remarkable impact on dental education throughout her stellar career as a lifelong champion of dental research and a steadfast advocate for making oral health education accessible to all.
The award is intended to inspire and empower the next generation of students in oral health education and leadership. Selected students will be determined by the liaison of each dental institution.
There is no application form for this award. Students will not submit nominations to ADEA. Students are nominated by their designated school liaison; there is only one nomination per school.
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 people 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 fueled transformation in the dental education community and beyond.
The award recipient or university will receive the following:
- A monetary award of $500.
- A certificate and nameplate for the school’s plaque during the student award ceremony at recipients’ respective dental institutions.
Application Information
Eligibility Requirements
This prestigious award, sponsored by ADEA, is given to a dental student in good academic standing in their final year of dental education at a U.S. or Canadian dental school.
Criteria for dental institution nomination:
- Participation in leadership activities,
- Commitment to improving access to oral health care and outcomes for communities with limited access to care through service to community and
- Dental student must be in their final year of dental education and committed to organized dentistry.
Application Process Checklist
The designated liaison from each U.S. and Canadian dental school must submit the dental student nomination.
Please contact the ADEA Office of Learning at JSAwards@adea.org to confirm eligibility.
University liaisons will receive information to submit their dental student nominee to ADEA by the end of January 2027.
De-identified nominee 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 winners’ home institutions and may be used in ADEA promotional material. By accepting this scholarship, winners agree to have read and understand how their information could be used.
Notification Date and Award Announcement
Selections are made by each U.S. and Canadian dental school and announced at each institution’s student award ceremony.
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.