New Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Joins School July 2; Trotman Serving in New Graduate Education Role
Dr. Janet M. Guthmiller’s first day as the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry’s associate dean for academic affairs will be July 2.
Guthmiller formerly served as associate professor within the University of Iowa College of Dentistry’s Department of Periodontics and Dows Institute for Dental Research. She also directed the Dental Student Research Program at Iowa, one of the largest in the country.
She received the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) Student Research Group (NSRG) Mentor Award at the 2007 NSRG business meeting. The award honors “dedication and commitment to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of researchers.”
Guthmiller’s arrival is just one of the new developments within academic affairs in the past few months.
Dr. Carroll-Ann Trotman, professor of orthodontics, was appointed assistant dean for graduate education – a new position at the School – in February. Dean John N. Williams said he created this position to enhance the strength of graduate education and academic development.
Among Trotman’s responsibilities in this new role are to administer and direct the School’s academic policies for the graduate and advanced education programs, recruit and enroll highly qualified graduate students, explore and develop programs that train graduates for careers in dental academia, and pursue possible collaborative activities with other dental schools and other health affairs schools at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Trotman was interim associate dean for academic affairs for two years, beginning in February 2005. Dr. Albert D. Guckes, assistant dean for admissions and predoctoral education, has managed the day-to-day operations of academic affairs since February 2007.
In the spring of this year, the School of Dentistry began a review of the DDS curriculum, a process that is exploring ideas such as enhanced mentoring for fourth-year DDS students and providing students with a higher level of clinical experience. Williams appointed Dr. Ed Kanoy to be the chair of the Workgroup on Clinical Education, formed to study and implement these ideas.
Guthmiller will lead the DDS curriculum revision in her new role as associate dean for academic affairs. She also, among other responsibilities, will ensure that the School continues to recruit and enroll highly qualified students in the dental, dental assisting and dental hygiene programs; lead the preparation and self-study process to undergo predoctoral accreditation; ensure compliance with UNC-Chapel Hill and School academic policies for students and faculty; and conduct systematic and regular assessment of all academic programs to assure desired outcomes.
“We have a great team in place to address our comprehensive array of academic programs,” Williams said. “I’m very excited about the future, as we move forward in creating the strongest