Creating alumni-student connections statewide

A new initiative that includes members of the Offices of Admission and Alumni Relations, as well as the Division of Community Outreach & Engagement, has been making strides in connecting the dentistry community statewide, especially in rural and underserved areas. Known as the Alumni, Admissions and Outreach Collaborative (AAOC), the effort includes Angie Hastings, DMD, director of Community Outreach and Engagement; Min Lee, community relations & outreach associate; Noelle McComb Simonson, Director of Alumni Relations; and Susan Wold, assistant director at the Office of Admissions.

The impetus for the effort came when Hastings became the Interim Director of the Division of Outreach and committed to visiting all 21 community care and Tribal clinics served by the School of Dentistry, from as far north as Red Lake, Minnesota to as far south as Martin, South Dakota.

With these visits in the works, the four sought ways to build in opportunities for in-person connection building. Wold said, “We asked ourselves, ‘How can we creatively tag along on these trips and engage alumni, current dental students and prospective dental students?’” She described their work as a grassroots effort. “It began with a desire to collaborate across departments and offices to support each other’s efforts and capitalize on resources.”

This team appreciates that alumni are vital parts of their community through their work and civic engagement. “They serve as mentors to students interested in oral health careers, and can be adjunct faculty at community clinics, including outreach sites,” Hastings said. “Through this collaboration, we can bring the School of Dentistry to their community and be a direct link to the school for alumni, students, and pre-dental students by offering networking dinners, assisting with shadowing opportunities, and helping make community connections.”

The conversations that arise during a meal or while shadowing have already led to stronger networks and new professional connections. Alumni enthusiasm and engagement have been significant, Hastings said. “Meeting alumni and prospective students at these events continues to connect them to their educational community, could lead to job opportunities and encourages them to think about young people they know within their communities who might  be interested in the dental field.”

“A lot of this work is about opening doors,” Lee said. “We’re creating intentional space and time for passionate people to share knowledge, resources and connections with each other. Current dental students have been able to discuss job opportunities with dental professionals, and prospective students have met with current dentists for mentorship.”

“So many of our alumni are looking for ways to support the future of oral health, so this is a great opportunity for them to get more involved,” Simonson said. “It’s a way for us to bring the University right to their communities.”

Future plans include visits to Grand Rapids, Duluth and South Dakota. A virtual event is in the works for rural and out-of-state alumni. The team is hoping to share the concept with colleagues, too: “We’re hoping to present at ADEA 2026, so other dental schools can use our blueprint on how to positively impact the rural and underserved workforce in their regions,” Hastings said.

The team is hoping to add more support for their work, too. “We’re hoping to fund an administrative support role, as the logistics are a lot to manage on top of our current work loads,” Wold said.