Bulletin of Dental Education Article

Dr. Garcia is Professor of Periodontics and Assistant Dean for Career Development at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM), as well as Clinical Professor in the Graduate Periodontics Program at Saint Louis University, The Center for Advanced Dental Education. She earned her dental degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, where she also completed her residency in periodontics. She pursued advanced training in education with a Certificate in University Teaching from Universidad El Bosque and a University Teaching Skills Certificate from Saint Louis University.

Dr. Garcia has further strengthened her pedagogical expertise with an ADEA micro-credential in Technology Integration and Didactic Teaching, several Association of College and University Educators credentials in learner-centered and inclusive teaching, and certification as a Diversity Facility Trainer. These combined foundations in clinical dentistry, pedagogy and professional development have shaped her career as an academic leader. At SIU SDM, Dr. Garcia has served as Chair of the Department of Applied Dental Medicine, Interim Director of Research and Section Head of Periodontics, where she has been instrumental in strategic planning, curriculum design, faculty development and mentoring initiatives that enhance both predoctoral and postdoctoral education.

Dr. Garcia’s scholarly interests bridge clinical periodontics, educational innovation and advancing inclusive excellence in academic dentistry. She has led and collaborated on NIH- and industry funded research, including the Human Microbiome Project and the NIH-NIDCR multi-center study on periodontal disease biomarkers. Widely published in peer-reviewed journals, her work spans periodontology, education research and institutional climate in oral health education. She has developed mentoring and leadership programs for women and underrepresented students and created pathway initiatives that expand access to oral health careers. Her teaching and leadership have been recognized with the American Academy of Periodontology Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring at Saint Louis University, the ADEA Enid A. Neidle Scholar-in-Residence Award and recognition as a finalist for the ADEA Centennial Award. Nationally, she has served on the leadership board of the ADEA Women in Leadership Section, co-chairs the ADEA Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee and contributes to the ADEA Task Force on Envisioning and Transforming the Future of Oral Health and Education. She also serves as a test constructor for the Integrated National Board Dental Examination. Through these efforts, Dr. Garcia continues to advance academic excellence, foster inclusive learning environments and prepare future generations of dental professionals and leaders. Dr. Garcia’s full profile is available on the AADOCR website.

Julie A. Gray, D.D.S., M. A.

Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry

Dr. Gray earned her D.D.S. from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry (Meharry SOD) and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of the Pacific Gladys E. Benerd School of Education. She is a graduate of the ADEA Leadership Institute, the ADEA AAL Institute for Teaching and Learning, the ADEA Emerging Leaders Program and the American Dental Association’s Institute for Diversity in Leadership. Dr. Gray is also a fellow of the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists and was recognized with the Distinguished Exemplary Teacher Award, the St. Jude Dr. Hildreth Service Award and the Meharry Alumnus of the Year Award.

Dr. Gray serves as associate dean of Community Based Collaboration, Associate Professor in Restorative Dentistry and Course Director for the Expanded Function Auxiliary Course in Restorative Function at Meharry SOD. She is also the Co-owner of Gray Dental Care PC. Dr. Gray currently serves as Director of the Community Clinic of Shelbyville and Bedford County and manages the mobile unit for the Meharry SOD.

Her extensive professional leadership includes serving as past Chair of the ADEA Minority Affairs Diversity and Inclusion Committee, ADEA Reference Committee Chair on Association Policy and current Co-chair of the ADEA Practice Management Section Committee. She is the current Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee and Administrative Marshall for the Meharry Medical College. As a committed service leader, Dr. Gray maintains active membership in the American Dental Association, National Dental Association, Tennessee Dental Association and Pan-Tennessee Dental Association.

Dr. Gray continues to serve numerous professional and community organizations throughout Nashville, TN, demonstrating a long-standing dedication to inspiring others while advancing the profession of dentistry. Her greatest attribute is that of service to the community. Dr. Gray’s full profile is available on the Meharry SOD website.

Dr. Jeong is Professor and Chair of the Department of Periodontology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM). She has more than 25 years of experience in dental education, clinical practice, research and administration. She is a board-certified periodontist and long-standing examiner for the American Board of Periodontology. As Department Chair, Dr. Jeong oversees departmental faculty, postgraduate residents and staff and is responsible for evaluations, mentorship and development. She also manages the departmental budget as well as implant and surgical resources. The postgraduate clinic achieved a 40% increase in net production under her leadership.

Dr. Jeong has also directed postgraduate and fellowship programs, chaired implant education practice committee and contributed to accreditation and strategic planning at both the school and university levels. She has also completed extensive leadership training, including the ADEA Leadership Institute, Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Fellowship, Bell Leadership Achievers Program and AAL Compass and Women’s Leadership Programs. She has published extensively in the fields of periodontology, implantology and dental education, secured grants from industry partners and coauthored a clinical textbook.

In addition, she has served as president of the Massachusetts Periodontal Society, chaired the ADEA Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care Committee and contributed to American Academy of Periodontology committees. As a Fellow of the Tufts Inclusive Learning Institute, Dr. Jeong has championed diversity, equity and inclusion, integrating DEI principles into curricula and faculty recruitment.

Through the ADEA Council of Deans Fellowship, she hopes to expand her expertise in academic governance, financial stewardship and higher education policy to prepare for senior leadership in dental education. Dr. Jeong’s full profile is available on the TUSDM website.

Rajesh V. Lalla, B.D.S., Ph.D.

University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine

Dr. Lalla is the Associate Dean for Research, Director of the Dental Clinical Research Center and Professor of Oral Medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine (UConn SDM). He earned his dental degree from the University of Mumbai, followed by a certificate in Oral Medicine and Ph.D. in Oral Biology from UConn. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine and a Fellow of the American and International Colleges of Dentistry. Dr. Lalla leads a highly successful NIH-funded, multi-center clinical research program on oral side effects of cancer therapy that has had direct effects on clinical practice.

He has published more than 120 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and is among the top 2% of all scientists worldwide. Dr. Lalla has received a U.S. patent as first-named inventor for an oral care product, is a start-up founder and has received the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) Innovation in Oral Care Award. Dr. Lalla is also an accomplished educator in the areas of oral medicine and evidence-based dentistry. He has received the Evidence-based Dentistry Accomplished Faculty Award from the American Dental Association (ADA) and American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR).

Dr. Lalla has an extensive record of interprofessional leadership at the international level. He is the only dentist to have served as President of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) in its 35-year history. As President, he developed and implemented a new organizational structure, whereby national-level organizations in several countries became affiliates of MASCC. The initiatives he implemented have proven to be transformational for the organization and its impact, resulting in more than a doubling of MASCC membership during his term, that has been sustained and grown further. He has also significantly contributed to development of partnerships with international dental, medical and nursing organizations, and is currently President-elect of the International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO).

Dr. Lalla has received Distinguished Service Awards from both MASCC and ISOO. At the national level, he is an active member of ADEA and AADOCR, including service as Chair of the ADEA Section on Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine, Councilor for two AADOCR sections and a member of the AADOCR Nominating Committee. Dr. Lalla is a graduate of the ADEA Leadership Institute, for which he was competitively selected to receive a full scholarship as the ADEA/AADOCR/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Dr. Dominick P. DePaola Scholar. Dr. Lalla’s full profile is available on the UConn Health website.

King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Dentistry

Dr. Meisha is a full-time Associate Professor in the Dental Public Health Department and Consultant in Orthodontics at King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Dentistry (KAUFD) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she serves as Director of the Outcome Assessment Division. In this role, she leads accreditation and institutional reporting, while mentoring junior faculty in teaching and students in research. Dr. Meisha earned her B.D.S. from KAUFD, and her M.P.H., D.Sc.., and orthodontic residency from Boston University.

Texas A&M University College of Dentistry

Dr. Taylor is currently a tenured Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Programs and Director of Pre-doctoral Orthodontics at the Texas A&M University College of Dentistry. He received his D.M.D., orthodontic certificate and Doctor of Medical Sciences (D.M.Sc.) in oral biology from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Forsyth Dental Center.

After receiving his degrees and specialty certificate, he accepted a full-time assistant professor position at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry. There, Dr. Taylor taught graduate and pre-doctoral orthodontics and continued his research investigations. In 1998, he was promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure. In 2000, Dr. Taylor accepted an associate professorship at Texas A&M Dentistry, then called the Baylor College of Dentistry, and received tenure in 2005.

Having both board certification in orthodontics and a D.M.Sc. in oral biology, Dr. Taylor is in a unique position to see the potential applicability of “benchtop” research, or hands-on, lab-based experiments, to clinical practice. He has published over 30 original articles, contributed to two book chapters and conducted oral presentations in both clinical and basic science research areas.

Dr. Taylor has chaired 11 Master of Science (M.S.) committees and has served on 21 M.S. and seven doctoral committees. In addition, he has mentored over 40 dental students in summer research. Dr. Taylor was also selected as a fellow in both the International College of Dentists and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. After being appointed Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Programs, Dr. Taylor was able to utilize the skills he acquired from attending the ADEA/AAL Chairs and Academic Administrators Management Program to lead the associate dean’s office into alignment with the policies and procedures of the university’s graduate school.

This coordination of the college’s graduate programs with the graduate school increases the opportunities available to the dental graduate students, which is one of the major goals of the associate dean’s office. Dr. Taylor’s full profile is available on the Texas A&M Dentistry website.

Published on February 11, 2026