Susan Daniel Hired as Chair of Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene
Susan J. Daniel, of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, has accepted the position of chair of Old Dominion's Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene, effective Jan. 25. Shelley Mishoe, dean of the ODU College of Health Sciences, announced the appointment before the break.
"Dr. Daniel is an expert dental hygienist, accomplished educator and skillful administrator with over 36 years of academic experience," Mishoe said, in the announcement.
Daniel said she has long respected and appreciated the academic leadership position held by the ODU Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to engage the faculty, staff, students and alumni in forward-thinking activities and initiatives to meet the college and university's mission and vision," she said. "The possibilities at ODU are boundless for improving the local area, state, nation and world."
Daniel earned a doctoral degree in clinical health sciences from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, a master's in education from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor's in dental auxiliary teacher education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
She has held appointments at several distinguished universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, where she started her academic career as a teaching intern; Georgia Regents University, where she served as an instructor of dental hygiene; Guilford Technical Community College, where she was the dental hygiene department head; UNC Chapel Hill, where she was a member of the graduate faculty; and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, in Jackson, where she was chair of the dental hygiene department.
Daniel also holds board certification from Tennessee in dental hygiene local anesthesia and is a licensed dental hygienist. She has given numerous invited presentations throughout her career and currently serves on the editorial boards for the Journal of Dental Hygiene and Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. Daniel has numerous publications to her credit on a variety of dental, dental hygiene, education and health topic areas, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters. Her current research focuses on teledentistry as a key component of access to health care and clinical outcomes.
"I am delighted that Dr. Daniel will be joining our team and assuming a leadership role in our College of Health Sciences as the Chair of the Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene," Mishoe said. "I give special thanks to the Search Committee, chaired by Debbie Bauman, with Marge Green, Karen Karlowicz, Irene Connolly and Mohammad Najand serving as members. The inter-professional search committee did an excellent job marketing this wonderful opportunity and identifying candidates with the credentials and experience needed for leading this outstanding school into a promising future."
In the announcement, Mishoe also thanked Green for serving as the interim chair of the school.
"We are fortunate that Ms. Green has agreed to serve out the remainder of her contract to help with transition and complete several initiatives she began under her leadership," she said. "Additionally, Marge Green serves a vital role as an active member of the College of Health Sciences Advisory Board, working with me and the board on the strategic direction and development for the entire college."
For more information about the Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene, visit the ODU College of Health Sciences website.