Ritter to Become School’s Next Executive Associate Dean

Effective January 1, 2018, Dr. André Ritter, current chair of the Department of Operative Dentistry, will begin his new appointment as the school’s next executive associate dean.

“I am excited that André has agreed to join the Office of the Dean and am confident that he will be an excellent fit for this role,” said Scott S. De Rossi, dean and professor. “I look forward to working more closely with him, and the rest of our school community, as we move our school beyond excellence.”

As executive associate dean, Ritter will assist De Rossi in a variety of day-to-day school administration functions such as chairing the school’s administrative board; coordinating reviews of school administrators; working with financial affairs on budget planning; providing oversight and guidance of support services operations, CE, HR and IT; and representing De Rossi when necessary.

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the school’s next executive associate dean,” said Ritter. “The UNC School of Dentistry has been my home for 20 years, and I am looking forward to serving the school community in this new capacity.”

Currently, the executive associate dean position is held in an interim capacity by longtime faculty member, Dr. Mike Roberts.

“I want to thank Dr. Mike Roberts, who has faithfully and selflessly served as interim executive associate dean since July 1, 2016,” said De Rossi. “He has done and continues to do an exceptional job in this role, and I am grateful for all his efforts during this time of transition.”

Roberts and Ritter will work together in the coming months to transition responsibilities to Ritter.

Ritter, the Thomas P. Hinman Distinguished Professor of Operative Dentistry, has been a member of the school’s faculty since 2000 and has served his department in a number of roles, most notably as director of the Operative Dentistry Graduate Program and chair of the department.