Our mission
The mission of the School of Dentistry Alumni Society is to:
- Connect alumni to the School of Dentistry and the University
- Generate alumni pride and support
- Enhance the student experience
- Help advance the mission of the School of Dentistry.
What we do
- Plan and host Dentistry Alumni Weekend
- Select recipients of Distinguished Alumni Awards annually
- Create a strong alumni voice in the school and after graduation
The School of Dentistry Alumni Society is also involved in a wide variety of successful initiatives to help improve the student experience including:
- Hosting alumni lunch and learns, wellbeing talks, residency panels and dinners with students
- Sponsoring the Senior Recognition Banquet & White Coat Ceremony
- Awarding scholarships annually to dental, dental hygiene, and dental therapy students
- Facilitating the sponsorship of caps and gowns for all graduating students
Would you like to join the board? Apply today!
For more information
Erin Elliott
Director of Alumni Relations, School of Dentistry
15-141 Moos Tower
515 Delaware St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-626-6884
[email protected]
University of Minnesota Alumni Association
McNamara Alumni Center
University of Minnesota Gateway
200 Oak Street SE, Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Website: Alumni Society: School of Dentistry
E-mail: [email protected]
800-UM-ALUMS or (612) 624-2323
Board Members and Committees
Board Members
Interested in the School of Dentistry Alumni Society Board? Apply by filling out this application form. A member of the SODAS board or staff will follow up with you.
President
Dr. Chad Rasmussen
Vice President
Dr. Shivan Nelson
Past President
Ms. Julie Dunn
Board Members
Dr. Angela Hilo
Ms. Karen Bohnen
Ms. Carol Dahlke
Dr. Shivan Nelson
Dr. Lisa Young
Dr. Tudor Stiharu
Dr. Amber Walker
Ms. Barb Veath
Dr. Aruna Rao
Dr. Mike Schafhauser
Ms. Jenna Gardner, Dental Therapy Student Representative
Mr. Emerson Gonyea, DDS Student Representative
Mr. Jacob Wolf, DDS Student Representative
For more information on getting involved with the School of Dentistry Alumni Society contact:
Erin Elliott
Director of Alumni Relations
School of Dentistry
15-141 Moos Health Sciences Tower
515 Delaware St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-626-6884
[email protected]
School of Dentistry Alumni Society Committees
Board Development Task Force
The Board Development Task Force is responsible for ensuring the future viability of the School of Dentistry Alumni Society by finding, evaluating, and developing board members and cultivating their leadership as officers of the board. The committee is chaired by the immediate past president of the board. Other members include the three other officers of the board, the president, vice president and secretary/treasurer. The committee meets at the discretion of the chair, typically once in the fall and once in the spring, and also communicates via email.
Honors Task Force
Five volunteers are needed for the Honors Task Force, which is responsible for the Distinguished Dental and Dental Hygiene Awards. These awards are presented annually, and task force members meet in December and January to discuss their strategy in carrying out the following:
- publishing the call for nominations
- reviewing the nominations received
- selecting the recipients
- presenting the awards
The Honors Task Force Chairperson sets the meeting schedule. This may include a meeting with the alumni director and/or a meeting of committee members (in person or via conference call). The call for nominations is sent out in early Fall (preferably September) and nominations are due in December. The committee votes and selects recipients in January. The award is presented every April at the Dean’s Recognition Reception at the Star of the North meeting.