Join Our Mailing List:
ABOUT
The National Academy of Dental Educators™ was created to serve the people at the heart of dental education, the educators who train, mentor, and shape the future dental workforce.
We are a professional development organization built by current educators who understand the realities of teaching, accreditation, curriculum design, and leadership in today’s academic and clinical environments.
Our work centers educators, not institutions, not trends, not titles, because strong programs are built when educators are supported, prepared, and connected.
WhY NADE WAS CREATED
Across dental education, educators are often asked to step into teaching and leadership roles without formal preparation, consistent support, or a national community to lean on.
Many enter education after years of clinical excellence, only to discover:
• limited training in pedagogy and assessment
• unclear guidance around CODA standards
• inconsistent onboarding and faculty development
• isolation across institutions
• high expectations with little structural support
The National Academy of Dental Educators™ was founded in response to these shared challenges, not as a critique of institutions, but as a complement to them.
NADE exists to bridge gaps, share best practices, and provide practical, educator-centered development that strengthens programs while honoring the people within them.
Who We ARE
NADE is a growing national community of:
• dental hygiene educators
• dental assisting educators
• program directors and department leaders
• clinical instructors
• curriculum and assessment specialists
• workforce development partners
Our educators span community colleges, universities, private institutions, and hybrid programs across the country.
While our community is still growing, our foundation is rooted in deep, lived experience within dental education, across curriculum design, accreditation, clinical instruction, and leadership.
OUR VALUES IN PRACTICE
Our work is guided by clear principles that shape every program, partnership, and learning space we create:
• Educator-centered design
We build with educators, not over them.
• Evidence-based teaching
Grounded in research, best practices, and real outcomes.
• CODA-aligned rigor
Compliance without confusion. Standards without intimidation.
• Psychological safety
Learning environments where educators can ask questions, reflect honestly, and grow without fear.
• Equity and inclusion
Intentional spaces that reduce gatekeeping and expand access.
• Collaboration over competition
Shared knowledge strengthens the profession.
We believe the future of dental education is built together, one educator, one program, one learning environment at a time.
THE EDUCATORS WE SERVE AND ELEVATE
The National Academy of Dental Educators™ is built for educators who:
• care deeply about student success
• want to strengthen their teaching practice
• value clarity, structure, and accountability
• are navigating accreditation or leadership roles
• believe dental education can be rigorous and humane
• want community without competition
As our community grows, we will begin highlighting educators, programs, and leaders who are shaping innovative, inclusive, and high-impact dental education across the country.
For now, this space reflects a collective commitment, not individual recognition.
LEADERSHIP & STEWARDSHIP
NADE is stewarded by experienced educators and curriculum leaders with backgrounds in:
• dental education and clinical practice
• curriculum and assessment design
• accreditation and compliance
• faculty development and leadership training
This ensures our programming remains grounded, practical, and aligned with the real demands educators face.
