A 12-month leadership experience for Program Directors
A 12-month leadership experience for program directors to gain high-level leadership skills, program guidance and mentorship. Engage with an exclusive group through a year long journey. If you are a new program director - here is your ticket to success. If you are a seasoned program director - here is how you can refine your craft to leave your legacy. If you are a retired or close to being a retired program director - this is your opportunity to mentor to collectively strengthen our own and our profession.
Schedule at a Glance
– 12 Sessions over 12 Months –
All sessions are Tuesday evenings 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm CT
Session 1
Developing a Philosophical Identity for Program Directors
Speaker: John Perricone, MS
Date: July 11, 2023
Session 2
Curriculum Management and Program Assessment
Speaker: Brenda Armstrong, MDH, RDH
Date: August 01, 2023
Session 3
Student Admission Strategies
Speaker: Tracye Moore, RDH, MS, EdD
Date: September 05, 2023
Session 4
From Hire to Retire: Supporting Faculty Through Their Academic Life Cycle
Speaker: Michele Carr, RDH, MA, EdD
Date: October 03, 2023
Session 5
Faculty Performance Reviews: Maximize the Opportunity
Speaker: Charles Pizanis, MD. FHM
Date: November 07, 2023
Session 6
Preparing Students for the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination
Speaker: Sheree Duff, RDH, MSA
Date: December 05, 2023
Session 7
The Power of a Strategic Plan for Dental Hygiene Education Programs
Speaker: Danielle Rulli, DHSc, MS, RDH
Date: January 02, 2024
Session 8
Navigating Upper Administration within the Context of Higher Education
Speaker: Laura Joseph, EdD
Date: February 06, 2024
Session 9
Understanding Burnout to Promote Wellness: Supporting Your Faculty Team
Speakers: Michelle Arnett, MS, RDH & Danielle Rulli, DHSc, MS, RDH
Date: March 05, 2024
Session 10
The Impact of Stress on Program Culture and Student Learning
Speaker: Donna Wicker, RDH, MEd, EdD
Date: April 02, 2024
Session 11
Program Director Role in Advocacy and Legislative Advancements
Speakers: Amy Coplen RDH, EPDH, MS & Lisa Rowley RDH, MS
Date: May 07, 2024
Session 12
Program Innovation and Growth
Speaker: Wanda Cloet, DHSC, RDH
Date: June 04, 2024
Detailed Session Information
Session 1 - July 11, 2023
Session 2 - August 01, 2023
Session 3 - September 05, 2023
Session 4 - October 03, 2023
Session 5 - November 07, 2023
Session 6 - December 05, 2023
Session 7 - January 02, 2024
Session 8 - February 06, 2024
Session 9 - March 05, 2024
Session 10 - April 02, 2024
Session 11 - May 07, 2024
Session 12 - June 04, 2024
Meet Your Conference Facilitators
John Perricone, MS
John Perricone is a best-selling author and nationally sought keynote speaker having been invited to speak in all fifty states and abroad. He has been lauded for his work in inviting his audiences to reflect upon their personal philosophies of life and the role that that philosophy plays in shaping their work ethic as it applies to their professional calling. Mr. Perricone was a Health Educator and Psychology teacher in the Maine-Endwell School District in upstate N.Y. for thirty-one years. His love and passion for teaching have made him the recipient of local, state, and national “Excellence in Teaching” awards, and he was the recipient of Maine-Endwell's Distinguished Teacher Award for twelve consecutive years since its inception. He is a best-selling author and a nationally and internationally sought keynote speaker whose talks have motivated and inspired countless individuals across a number of business, education, and healthcare professions.
Brenda Armstrong, MDH, RDH
Brenda Armstrong, Department Chair and Associate Professor, has been invested in student success at Utah Tech University (UT) Department of Dental Hygiene since 2013. Previous to UT, she contributed to the successful opening and accreditation of the Dental Hygiene Department at Thomas Nelson Community College (Williamsburg, VA), where she served as assistant professor and clinic coordinator. In her many higher education roles, including college assessment lead, Brenda has developed proficiency in the areas of curriculum planning and program assessment. This includes the collection and analysis of data to understand and improve the effectiveness of programs, while improving the student learning experience. Brenda recently celebrated 37 years of marriage with her sweetheart and has a beloved son, daughter-in-law, and grand-dog named Maple. She is passionate about being in the outdoors while hiking in the beauty of Southern Utah.
Tracye Moore, RDH, MS, EdD
Tracye A. Moore's 30+ year dental hygiene career began in Philadelphia, PA and runs the gamut from working at hospitals to private practice, as a clinical instructor for two different colleges, conducting research for the University of Pittsburgh, and being employed by the United States Navy. She received an Associate of Science Degree from Temple University, a Bachelor of Science Degree from West Chester University, a Master of Science Degree from St. Joseph’s University, and a Doctorate of Education from Wilmington University. Dr. Moore has been a faculty member of Northern Arizona University (NAU) for 10 years and was Chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene for 6 years where she received the President’s Diversity Award for increasing the number of minority dental hygiene student graduates. Her numerous publications include a book chapter on Minority Women in Educational Leadership, articles in Dimensions of Dental Hygiene Magazine, a book chapter titled Teledentistry and Dental Hygiene. She also wrote a children’s book titled I Want to be a Dental High Genius. Her dissertation The Diversity Dilemma: A National Study of Minorities in Dental Hygiene Programs addresses the need for more minority dental hygienists to provide care for an increasingly diverse population.
Michele Carr, RDH, MA, EdD
Michele Carr is faculty Emeritus and former Chair, Division of Dental Hygiene at The Ohio State University, College of Dentistry. She also served as the Director of Continuing Education at the College of Dentistry for three years while she was chair of her division. Along with her research interests in clinical practice and cultural diversity, Dr. Carr has dedicated much of her career to serving numerous years as both a CODA consultant and a CODA Dental Hygiene Review Committee member. Dr. Carr has been recognized nationally and locally serving on numerous professional committees such as the ADEA Council of Allied Dental Program Directors, ADEA Continuing Education Advisory Committee, ADHA Council on Policy and Bylaws, and Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Association Government Relations Committee. She has published over 20 articles in a variety of dental journals and serves as an Ask-the-Expert columnist for the journal Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. Michele is a member of the Ohio State Dental Board and serves as an examiner for CDCA-WREB-CITA. Additionally, Michele is an accreditation consultant for Educators Platform.
Charles Pizanis, MD, FHM
Charles Pizanis is an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He completed his medical training at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and has worked as an Internal Medicine Hospitalist since 2013. Since completing his training, Dr. Pizanis has held multiple leadership and teaching positions including serving as Section Chief for the UNM Division of Hospital Medicine. He has led a group of over forty faculty physicians and mentored innumerable junior faculty and physicians in training. He lectures frequently on leadership, negotiation and quality improvement.
Sheree Duff, RDH, MSA
Sheree Duff received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree from the University of Michigan (U-M) followed by a Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration from Central Michigan University. She has heldvarious roles over the last 45 years, including dental hygiene faculty member, program director/department chair, and dean of dental programs in the privatecollege, community college, and university environment. Her strong clinical interest is in the care of the advanced periodontal patient. Her academic interests include curriculum design, integrating theory courses with clinical application for successful student recruitment, retention and assessment leading to outstanding board scores and high graduation pass rates. Additionally, Sheree has held otherleadership roles, serving as the chair of the U-M Board of Governors and member of the U-M Campaign Committee. She has been active in several local chapters of the National Dental Hygiene Honor Society, serving as component President for 18 years. She served for two terms as the President of the Michigan Dental Hygiene Educators' Association. She recently completed her seven year appointment as a Consultant to the Joint Commission on Dental Accreditation. Currently, she is a member of several ADA National Dental Examinations, Test Construction Committees. Working with dental hygiene students is her passion and she continues her teachings at the University of Michigan, School of Dentistry, as a full-time faculty member.
Danielle Rulli, DHSc, MS, RDH
Danielle Rulli is a Clinical Associate Professor of Dentistry at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontics & Oral Medicine, and is the Director of the Master’s of Science in Dental Hygiene program. Dr. Rulli’s research endeavors focus in the areas of interprofessional education and collaboration, particularly medical/dental integration, and non-surgical therapies. Dr. Rulli was an invited contributor to Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges, the landmark follow up to the 2000 Surgeon General's Oral Health in America published by the NIDCR. She is was an subject matter expert for the National Council on Mental Wellbeing’s Oral Health, Mental Health, and Substance Use Treatment: A Framework for Increased Coordination and Integration. She is recognized for her leadership and contributions to dental education, receiving a Chair of the ADEA Board of Directors Citation, and has been a ADEA Leadership Institute Fellow. She has received the University of Michigan’s prestigious Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize, and was an Interprofessional Leaders Fellow. She maintains active clinical practice in the University of Michigan, Department of Periodontics & Oral Medicine Faculty Practice.
Laura Joseph, EdD
A distinguished scholar, teacher, and leader, Laura Joseph oversees all academic schools and departments at Farmingdale State College where she holds the position of Senior Vice President and Provost. Dr. Joseph began her academic career at Farmingdale State College in 1991 as a faculty member in the Department of Dental Hygiene and served as Department Chair from 2003-2013. Dr. Joseph earned a Doctoral Degree in Higher Education and Academic Leadership from Columbia University and a BS and MS degree in Science from Old Dominion University. In addition to her administrative posts within higher education, Dr. Joseph has served as Dental Hygiene Commissioner for the American Dental Associations’ Commission on Dental Accreditation and as an accreditation site visitor. She is past President of the New York State Dental Hygiene Educators’ Association and the National Dental Hygiene Honor Society, Sigma Phi Alpha. She has co-authored the book Dental Hygiene Process: Diagnosis and Care Planning and is a contributing author in Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice by Darby and Walsh; Darby’s Comprehensive Review of Dental Hygiene by Christine Blue; Medical Emergencies: Essentials for the Dental Professional by Ellen Grimes; Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist by Esther Wilkins, and Comprehensive Dental Hygiene Care by Irene Woodall.
Michelle Arnett, MS, RDH
Michelle Arnett currently serves as an Assistant Professor on Tenure-Track in the Department of Primary Dental Care, Division of Dental Hygiene at the University of Minnesota (UMN) School of Dentistry (SOD). She has 18 years of clinical practice experience and nine years of experience in academics and research at the University of Michigan SOD and the UMN SOD. Her areas of research focus are motivational interviewing and periodontology. In addition to topics to enhance her teaching, student mentorship and dental hygiene educator burnout. Michelle Arnett teaches Communications, Periodontology, and the Process of Care in Allied Oral Health: Clinical Application III and IV in the UMN SOD BSDH program and Instructional Strategies in the UMN MSDH program. Her professional memberships include Sigma Phi Alpha-Nu Chapter, American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).
Donna Wicker RDH, MEd, EdD
Donna Wicker has been in dental hygiene education for 12 years. She practiced clinical dental hygiene for 20 years prior to beginning her career in education. She enjoys learning new things and took advantage of the options available in the dental field. She began her clinical career in a periodontal practice and discovered a passion for working with periodontally involved patients. A few years later she discovered her love of education when presented with an opportunity to work as a dental public health educator, designing and implementing dental public health programs and working in a community-based clinic. She then transitioned to a traditional family and cosmetic practice to round out her clinical career. Loving both the practice of dental hygiene and education, Dr. Wicker returned to college to study higher education, specializing in student learning and development, with an interest in clinical education and effective transition to practice. During her time as an educator, she has taught Periodontology, Preventive Dental Health, Pharmacology, Dental Emergencies, Nutrition, Oral Pathology, Dental Hygiene Practice, Ethics and Practice Management, and Clinic. Currently, she teaches Periodontology and is the coordinator for the second-year clinic.
Lisa Rowley RDH, MS
Lisa J. Rowley was founding Program Director for the Pacific University School of Dental Hygiene Studies. Lisa designed the B.S. degree dental hygiene program at Pacific to prepare dental hygienists to work as independent practitioners in non-traditional health care settings with a focus on expanding access to care for underserved populations. In 2018 Lisa stepped down as Program Director and she remained at Pacific as a faculty member until her retirement in 2023. In addition to her work with Pacific, Lisa served as Advocacy Director for the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association and worked on advocacy issues with the Oregon Dental Assisting Educators.
Amy Coplen RDH, EPDH, MS
Amy Coplen is Professor and Program Director of the Pacific University School of Dental Hygiene Studies. She held an instrumental role in Dental Therapy Pilot Project #300 that began in 2020 and the passing of permanent legislation in Oregon in 2021. She received over $300,000 in grant funding for the development of dental therapy education and is currently training to become a dental therapist. She serves on the Oregon Board of Dentistry Dental Therapy Rules and Oversight Committee. Additional advocacy interests include; elimination of the single encounter live board patient, licensing through OSCE examination and license portability.
Wanda Cloet, DHSC, RDH
Wanda Cloet is the dental hygiene program director at Central Community College, Hastings, Nebraska. She received her associate and bachelor degrees in dental hygiene from Wichita State University. Dr. Cloet completed her Master of Science Degree in Vocational Education from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and a Doctor of Health Science Degree from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. She is a member of the American Dental Education Association, American Mobile & Teledentistry Alliance, and American Dental Hygienists’ Association. She has served on numerous committees with the American Dental Education Association, American Dental Association, and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. In addition, she is a consultant to the Commission on Dental Accreditation. She has been in dental hygiene education for 39 years.
Enrollment is CLOSED!
Price for Comprehensive Leadership Experience
$997
Per individual registration
All sessions will be recorded and accessible following the live events
