A Publication of the University of North Carolina - UNC School of ...

S CHOOL P REPARES TO W ELCOME N EW D EAN
■■■■
Dear Alumni and Friends:
Iam truly honored to have been selected
as the new Dean of the School of
Dentistry at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. I accept this new
responsibility with humility and great
excitement. The School enjoys a stellar
national and international reputation which
we will build upon in the years ahead.
I appreciate all who participated
in the search process and those
who offered advice and support
to the effort. I thank them for
their service. I have learned much
about UNC during the search,
but I know I have much more to
learn and will be counting on
you to assist me.
I recently met with the
faculty, staff and students of the
School and shared with them
some of my discussions with
Provost Shelton. There were no
surprises as we talked about
strengthening the research and
educational programs, providing
the infrastructure necessary to
carry out our mission and securing
adequate financial resources
to sustain and grow the UNC
dental programs. I look forward
to the new responsibilities
with enthusiasm but also with
the realization that these are
challenging times for higher
education in which state and
federal funding will be more
difficult to attain.
On May 31, 2005, I officially
will become the Dean of the
School of Dentistry. Until then,
Dr. Ken May will remain as
interim dean. I know you will
continue to support him. During
the transition to UNC, I will
meet regularly with Dr. May to
gain more knowledge on various
issues so that we can hit
the ground running
when I arrive.
I look forward
to working with
you and the exciting
times ahead as we
serve, learn and
grow together.
With best wishes,
John
Dr. John N.Williams has been named the
sixth dean of the University of North Carolina
School of Dentistry. He will begin his tenure
on May 31, 2005.
Born in Tennessee,Williams earned his
bachelor of arts in biology from Transylvania
University in Lexington, Kentucky in 1974
and his doctor of dental medicine from the
University of Louisville School of Dentistry
in 1980. He later received his master’s in
business administration from the University
of Louisville School of Business.
Williams has served as the dean of the
Louisville School of Dentistry since 1999.
Under his leadership, the school has seen
an increase in total research funding from
$1.4 million to more than $7.2 million and
conducted a contemporary academic program,
which for the past five years has ranked
Louisville students in the top 10 of all U.S.
dental schools on the clinical sciences portion
of the National Dental Board Examinations.
An advocate for the integration of technology
and instruction,Williams has promoted the
innovative use of instructional computer technology.While
at Louisville, he led development
of a high-tech pre-clinical simulation teaching
facility.Williams collaborated with the medical
school on a medical simulation lab and
standardized patient program.
Prior work experiences include seven years
as associate dean of educational programs
at Louisville and three years in a concurrent
position as assistant university provost.
Before joining the faculty at Louisville in 1986,
Williams worked in private dental practice
and held part-time positions with several
public health organizations in the Louisville,
KY area.
Williams is married to wife, Lucy, and has one
daughter, Carrie. In his free time,Williams is an
avid boater.
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