New Leadership Roles for Swift, Ritter, Wright, Lee

Effective today, July 1, Dr. Ed Swift, Dr. André Ritter, Dr. Tim Wright and Dr. Jessica Lee begin new leadership roles at the School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina.

Dr. Ed Swift, longtime chair of the Department of Operative Dentistry, begins his appointment as interim associate dean for education in the Office of Academic Affairs. In this role, Swift will oversee the school’s educational programs and policies and weigh-in on other decisions of administrative importance in the Office of Academic Affairs and bridge the gap that will be created when Dr. Janet Guthmiller begins her appointment as dean of the College of Dentistry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center on September 1. Most recently, Swift had served as co-interim associate dean for clinical affairs – along with Dr. Ralph Leonard – which caused Swift to vacate his chair position in operative dentistry.

Dr. André Ritter, director of the Operative Dentistry Graduate Program, began serving as interim chair of the Department of Operative Dentistry when Swift became interim associate dean for student clinics. He has now been appointed the new chair of the Department of Operative Dentistry, effective today. Also effective today, Dr. Lee Boushell is the new director of the Operative Dentistry Graduate Program.

After 10 years as chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Tim Wright steps down today. His new appointment is as the school’s director of strategic initiatives. In this capacity, Wright will work closely with the Office of Academic Affairs to advance the school’s curriculum review and revitalization process, among other school-wide initiatives.

Dr. Jessica Lee, William W. Demeritt Distinguished Professor and director of the Pediatric Dentistry Graduate Program, begins her appointment today as the new chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. She will continue to direct the graduate program until a new director is selected.

“We are extraordinarily fortunate to have such wonderful, talented and dedicated faculty at UNC who are willing to take on additional responsibilities for the good of the school,” said Dr. Jane Weintraub, dean of the UNC School of Dentistry. “I am excited to see each of them excel in these new leadership roles and am grateful for their commitment to our school and our students.”