Welcome ADHA President Dawn Dean!
Dawn Ann Dean, RDH, MSDH of Wheeling, West Virginia, is the 2022-2023 President of the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA).
Dawn graduated with an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene from West Liberty State College in 1984. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from West Virginia University, Eberly College of Arts & Sciences, in 1986, and subsequently a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Research & Administration from the West Virginia University, School of Dentistry, in 1992. Dawn was awarded the WLSC Golden Scaler Award and the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association
Award for Clinical and Academic Excellence and served as a Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA) President. Her professional career includes work as a clinical dental hygienist, clinical instructor at West Liberty University, Sarah Whitaker Glass School of Dental Hygiene, and an RDH expert witness and entrepreneur. Dawn has also authored several professional articles for Access Magazine.
Currently, Dawn is an Assistant Professor at the WVU School of Dentistry, Department of Dental Hygiene, in Morgantown, West Virginia, and a Twice Toothpaste Pro Team Ambassador.
Dawn has held numerous leadership positions on the local, state and national levels, including two consecutive terms as TSDHA president and president-elect, as WVDHA president and president-elect, WV IOH Liaison, and WV Delegation Chair. She served as ADHA District III Trustee from 2016-2020 and as the 2020-2021 ADHA Vice President. Dawn has served on the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, IOH Board of Directors, Board Governance Manual Committee as Chair, Nominating Committee as Board Advisor, Student Relations Committee, and Council on Public Relations as Chair. She received the 2017 West Virginia University School of Dentistry Distinguished Alumni Award and was inducted into the Sigma Phi Alpha National Dental Hygiene Honor Society in 2018.
Dawn and her husband, Michael, have three, beautiful adult daughters and now consider themselves official empty nesters. She is a Sigma Phi Alpha National Dental Hygiene Honor Society WVU School of Dentistry Alpha Xi Chapter Member, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority Member, Toastmasters International Member, and WV Oral Health Coalition Member. She is also a certified Sports Yoga instructor and an avid antique collector.