Bodager Is Named New Assistant Dean for Advancement

Brad Bodager has been appointed the new executive director for the Dental Foundation of North Carolina and assistant dean for advancement for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.

Bodager began work at the School on May 14. A law graduate of the University of San Francisco, he also received his master of laws degree from Georgetown University. Bodager most recently served as executive director for advancement at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. Among his other advancement experience, Bodager served as director of alumni relations and of campaign leadership gifts at Duke University School of Law from 1996 to 2000.

His career also includes 15 years spent within the private practice of law, government relations and public service. He is authorized to practice law within the jurisdictions of Virginia, the District of Columbia, Ohio, West Virginia and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bodager’s responsibilities at the School of Dentistry will include planning, organizing and directing fund-raising efforts and special events, as well as establishing and maintaining networks of key constituencies to advance the School’s mission. He will work closely with Dean John N. Williams and the Foundation board, among other School leaders, in these initiatives.

Williams said Bodager brings to the School of Dentistry a wealth of experience and a track record of achievement within the field of advancement.

“Brad clearly recognizes the tremendous support provided by our School’s alumni and friends and what this support has made possible for our dental education and service to the state,” Williams said. “He also has articulated innovative ideas on how to further develop these critical partnerships and on how we can most appropriately engage foundations and industry in the very promising patient-centered research under way at the School.”

Bodager said he plans to spend his first months in the School “being a very good listener concerning the issues on the minds of the alumni and learning from the department chairs and other School leaders on what they view as priorities.”

“The education of dental health professionals is a very important mission, and it is extremely important to place the School of Dentistry front and center in articulating that focus,” he added. “I want to learn the goals and objectives, as determined by the School’s administrative and alumni leaders, and robustly pursue those goals.”

Kelly Almond, executive director of the Dental Alumni Association and associate director of the Foundation, had most recently served as interim executive director of the Foundation. Williams commended her for her leadership and for her ongoing dedication and responsiveness to the School’s alumni.

“This has been a very busy and fulfilling year in the life of our School, and I am very grateful to Kelly for her outstanding leadership and insight. We have celebrated the culmination of a very successful fund-raising campaign this year. Looking forward, I am confident in the team we have in place to support our alumni and the Foundation and in what this team can achieve to advance our School.”