Wilder Named Director of Faculty Development

Rebecca Wilder, associate professor of dental ecology at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, has been named the School’s director of faculty development.

Wilder’s appointment was effective Sept. 1. A School faculty member since 1981, she also continues her role as graduate program director for dental hygiene education and her teaching responsibilities.

Within this new faculty development position, Wilder is responsible for chairing the Faculty Development Committee and overseeing the direction of professional development activities for full-time faculty. Among these initiatives will be developing an orientation program for new faculty, coordinating faculty development programs with the University’s Center for Faculty Excellence and a faculty enrichment series for the School of Dentistry, consulting on CV development and assisting in identifying and nominating faculty members for teaching and research awards.

The director of faculty development position is based within the School’s Office of Academic Affairs.

“Professional development is essential in sustaining and supporting the enthusiasm faculty members bring to our School’s educational, research and service missions,” said Dr. Janet Guthmiller, associate dean for academic affairs. “Rebecca’s leadership and her own enthusiasm will make her an asset in this new role. I look forward to working with her in supporting our faculty colleagues at all stages of their careers.”

Wilder has published 83 articles and editorials and 39 abstracts. She is a co-editor of the recently published second edition of “Mosby’s Dental Hygiene: Concepts, Cases and Competencies” and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dental Hygiene, the American Dental Hygienists Association’s (ADHA) scientific peer-reviewed publication.

Her national and international professional affiliations include chairing the ADHA Institute for Oral Health Research Grant Review Committee and the ADHA Council on Research. She also has served as president of the International Association of Dental Research’s (IADR) Oral Health Research Group.

Wilder received the 2002 IADR Colgate Oral Health Research Award and a 2002 Pfizer/ADHA Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene. In 2007-2008, she was a fellow of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Leadership Institute. Wilder also is completing the ADEA/Academy for Academic Leadership’s Institute for Teaching and Learning.

At the School of Dentistry, she served on the Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee from 1999 through 2006, including three years as committee chair. She currently serves on the Faculty Executive Committee for UNC-Chapel Hill.