Dr. Nicole Kimmes Named Interim Dean at University of New England CDM

Nicole Kimmes, D.D.S.

The University of New England College of Dental Medicine (UNE-CDM) has named Nicole Kimmes, D.D.S., Associate Dean of Curriculum Integration and Analytics and Clinical professor, Interim Dean. Dr. Kimmes joined UNE in 2016. She succeeds Jon Ryder, D.D.S., M.S., who has stepped down from his role as dean to take a sabbatical leave. 

Dr. Kimmes received her B.S. from Northern State University and her D.D.S. from Creighton University School of Dentistry (Creighton SOD). She was on the dental faculty at Creighton SOD for 14 years, serving as Assistant Dean of Faculty Development and Technology. Following that, she served as Associate Professor of Pathology and Radiology at Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry.

Dr. Kimmes is a founding member of the Consortium for Oral Health Research and Informatics (COHRI). She is a past chair of the COHRI Board of Directors and chaired both the Adult and Pediatric Standardized Medical and Dental History workgroups for over 10 years. She is a past chair of the American Dental Education Association Section on Clinic Administration. In 2018 she was appointed to the American Dental Education Association Compendium of Competency Assessment workgroup. Dr. Kimmes was awarded Fellowship in the International College of Dentists in 2018. She currently serves on the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Supreme Chapter Charles Craig Award Committee and is the Secretary-Treasurer for the OKU Beta Theta Chapter.

During his time at UNE-CDM, Dr. Ryder played a pivotal role in the school’s founding, which is the only dental medicine program in northern New England. He served in several other leadership roles in the college since its founding, including Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Executive Associate Dean and Interim Dean. During his tenure with UNE-CDM, he was committed to the community-based mission of the school. He worked diligently with partners in the public and private sectors to make sure the school fulfills the promise to encourage and incentivize graduates to deliver quality oral health care where it is most needed, especially in rural and underserved areas of the state and the region. He recently restructured the college, forming four distinctive departments and appointing chairs. He created educational exchange opportunities with the University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He also established the Advanced Standing Track program for foreign-trained dentists, providing a pathway for dentists from other countries to earn the same U.S. Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree as conventionally enrolled D.M.D. students. Through his work to educate future dentists and to promote the advancement of oral health for underserved populations, he has made significant contributions to the wellbeing of the state and the region.

Courtesy of University of New England College of Dental Medicine

Published on Sept. 8, 2021