Faculty and Advisors

Dr. Haden is President and CEO of AAL.

Since AAL’s founding in 2005, Dr. Haden and AAL have worked with more than 150 U.S. and international higher education institutions, associations, and businesses through AAL’s professional development programs and consulting services.

Dr. Haden oversees ongoing leadership development initiatives for numerous organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), the Dental Trade Alliance, and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative. His areas of expertise include leadership, organizational change, team building, strategic planning, curriculum development, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. From 1998 to 2005, Dr. Haden served as Associate Executive Director for Educational Policy and Research at ADEA. He has authored or coauthored more than 80 articles and monographs. Dr. Haden is the author, along with AAL Senior Fellow Rob Jenkins, of The 9 Virtues of Exceptional Leaders: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential (Deeds, 2015) and 31 Days with the Virtues (Deeds, 2020). Dr. Haden is a Fellow (Hon.) of the American College of Dentists and a Fellow of the Center for the Study of the Great Ideas.

In 2017, he was honored by the ADEAGies Foundation as recipient of the Gies Award for Achievement-Public or Private Partner. In 2019, he received the Professionalism and Ethics Award from the American College of Dentists.

Dr. Albino, currently Associate Dean for Strategic Planning and Development at the University of Colorado Denver, has served as president of two higher education systems—the University of Colorado and Alliant International University, a private nonprofit university. Her higher education experience includes several roles at the dean and vice-presidential levels, and she has spent more than 30 years as a faculty member in schools of dentistry, medicine, and psychology.

She has received numerous honors, including an honorary doctorate and a distinguished alumna award, and she was named the Distinguished Psychologist in Management by the Society of Psychologists in Management.

At AAL, she is a Senior Consultant who works extensively in the areas of leadership training, planning and evaluation, and board development.

Mr. Leeth is Chief Advocacy Officer at ADEA.

He spent almost 25 years working on Capitol Hill—five years working for a House member and 20 years on the professional staff of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. On the Appropriations Committee, he was a subcommittee staff director for 15 years and served both sides of the aisle in that capacity, always working in the majority. 

After leaving Capitol Hill, he spent five years as a lobbyist for the American Medical Association, was Vice President at the Jefferson Consulting Group, and has been an independent lobbyist as Principal in his own firm, Lincoln Capitol Consulting, LLC.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Dr. Tucker-Lively is the Vice President of AAL, an Atlanta-based company focused on providing professional development and consulting services to individuals, institutions, and organizations in health and higher education. She develops, oversees, and facilitates sessions for various professional development programs, both for AAL and for specific client projects. She has assisted faculty, residents, and administrators in cultivating their growth and development in a variety of settings.

Dr. Tucker-Lively holds a B.S. in Human Service Studies from Cornell University, an M.P.H. in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Mercer University. Her experience in administration, operational management, professional and organizational development, and program coordination at health professions schools and hospitals spans 23 years. Dr. Tucker-Lively maintains a variety of memberships and leadership positions in professional and community organizations.

She was recently appointed one of 12 nationwide faculty and independent researchers to the ADEA Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment, charged with exploring issues of diversity, equity, inclusion and wellness throughout the United States and Canada. Her background involves working with executive leadership teams to solve challenges, develop alternatives, and create efficiencies for improving program quality.

Prof. Zarkowski is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs of University of Detroit Mercy. She is Chief Academic Officer for the university, which includes a School of Architecture, College of Business Administration, College of Engineering & Science, College of Liberal Arts & Education, School of Dentistry, School of Law and College of Health Professions. In addition to academic oversight, Provost Zarkowski supervises key student and institutional support offices, including Libraries and Instructional Technology, Student Success Center, Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, Office of Sponsored Research Activities, Institute for Leadership and Service, Title IX and Equity and Compliance, Trio and Upward Bound programs, Women’s and Gender Studies, the Honors Program, Student Fellowships and Catholic Studies.

An educator for 40 years, she has served in various administrative and leadership roles at the university, including chairperson of two departments, Associate Dean for academic administration, curriculum, dental admissions and community relations, and Executive Associate Dean in the School of Dentistry. She also has held various leadership roles in national organizations, including President of the American Dental Education Association, 2001-2002; Society for Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine, 2007-2008; and the American Society for Dental Ethics, 2003-2006 and 2016-2018. She was also chairperson of the ADEAGies Foundation from 2002-2007.

Provost Zarkowski is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker who has provided over 250 presentations, workshops and seminars. Her scholarly activity and research is focused on professional, legal and ethical issues for dental and health professionals, leadership, women’s health, cultural competence and sensitivity and health literacy. She has more than 60 publications and abstracts. She is a contributor to dental, dental hygiene and dental assisting textbooks.

She received a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Public Health in Dental Public Health and a Teaching Certificate for Special Purpose Program for Teachers of Community Dentistry from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University. She has a certificate from the Wayne State University Geriatric Institute Program and a certificate in ethics education from Kennedy Institute for Ethics. She was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1989 and holds an active law license.

Dr. Lefebvre is Dean of the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University (DCG at Augusta) after serving previously as the Vice Dean/Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Faculty Affairs for six years. She is a Professor in the Departments of Restorative Sciences and Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences at DCG at Augusta and in the Graduate School, respectively. Dr. Lefebvre is the principal investigator of the Nobel Biocare/AU Center of Excellence grant and a Health Resources and Services Administration Faculty Loan Repayment Grant. She is a recipient of DCG at Augusta’s Excellence in Teaching and Outstanding Faculty Member Awards.

Dr. Lefebvre received her D.D.S. and M.S. in Prosthodontics from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, a Fellow in the Academy of Prosthodontics, American College of Prosthodontists, International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy as well as a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Society. Dr. Lefebvre served as Editor-in-Chief for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry for nine years after serving four years as the Associate Editor. The American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics honored Dr. Lefebvre by naming their Scientific Poster Award in honor of her tenure as Editor. Dr. Lefebvre is a 2005-2006 fellow of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program and a Certified Executive Coach. She is currently the Immediate Past President of the Academy of Prosthodontics.

Michael Reddy, DMD, DMSc, is dean and associate vice chancellor of Oral Health Affairs at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry. Dr. Reddy is an internationally renowned periodontics specialist who values supporting innovation in dentistry, critical thinking and lifelong learning, and groundbreaking research to improve oral health.

Mentorship and sponsorship are essential ingredients of Dr. Reddy’s role as dean. Dr. Reddy believes that an academic leader should look constantly to the future for opportunities to “push the envelope” and innovate for the sake of developing strong, vital programs. In doing so, a leader should stay abreast of the latest developments in the field, keep a watchful eye on the unit as a whole, and look for opportunities to move the organization forward.

Dr. Reddy is well published, and his work has been supported by grant funding for the past 30 years. He serves on numerous boards in the profession and in the community and is the current editor of the Journal of Dental Education. He is actively involved in health care policy and health professional education reform at the national level.

Before joining UCSF in 2018, he served as dean and a faculty member at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry. Dr. Reddy earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Hartford, a Doctorate of Dental Medicine and Certificate in Periodontology from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and a Doctorate of Medical Science from Harvard University.

Michelle Robinson, D.M.D., M.A., is the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is the first and only person on her campus to have served in leadership roles in both a health and a non-health school, having been interim dean for the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry (UAB SOD) from 2018 to 2019 and interim dean for the School of Education from 2020 to 2022. This shaped her core belief that leadership skills are transferable across roles, disciplines and cultures, and that everyone can hone their abilities to be an effective leader.

Within UAB SOD, Dr. Robinson has also served as Senior Associate Dean and led the areas of information technology and informatics, billing and patient finance operations, strategic planning and institutional effectiveness, clinical affairs, faculty development, compliance/executive risk assessment and diversity and equity and inclusion. She has mentored faculty, staff and students at all levels—starting at middle and high school—and continues to teach in health informatics and health administration. Her areas of research and publication include informatics, gamification and organizational climate and culture. She has continually been funded and most recently served as an Associate Editor for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2021 report, “Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges,” and as a member of the NIH Advisory Council for Research on Women’s Health.

Dr. Robinson is a graduate of Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and the General Practice Residency program at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. She has a biomedical informatics degree from Columbia University and certifications that include Special Patient Care, Information Technology Project Management and Online Education. She has held multiple leadership roles at the national level, including Chair of the Dental Informatics Working Group of American Medical Informatics Association and ADEA Chair of the Dental Informatics Section.

Dr. Robinson is the recipient of several awards in the areas of teaching, research, service and mentorship. She has given lectures and continuing education courses, and has served as a consultant for various universities, associations and study clubs throughout the United States and Europe.

Robert Spears, Ph.D., M.S., is the Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs and Professor in the Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences at the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry (UTHealth Houston SOD). He came to the UTHealth Houston SOD, in 2015, after serving as the Director of Curriculum and Director of Student Research and Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University School of Dentistry. In his current role as the Academic Dean, he oversees educational programs for dental hygiene, dental and advanced education. His major roles also include oversight of curriculum management and assessment, admissions and daily student life issues. Within UTHealth, he is actively involved in interprofessional education and student wellness.

Dr. Spears participated in the AAL Leadership Institute in 2012, the Chairs and Academic Administrators Management Program (CAAMP) in 2015 and served as a facilitator for CAAMP in 2018. He is a fellow of the Harvard Macy Institute’s program for educators, a Commission on Dental Accreditation site visitor and a participant on the Joint Commission National Dental Examination Committee. Dr. Spears has performed several roles for ADEA—having been active on the Council of Faculties, a member of the Annual Session Planning Committee and a new addition to the Policy and Research Advisory Committee; he also received a Presidential Citation. He has also been active throughout his career with American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research, having served on several committees.

Dr. Spears is also the Primary Investigator for the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) for UTHealth. This is a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with direction and technical assistance provided by ADEA and the Association of American Medical Colleges. SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students underrepresented in the health professions and prepare them for a successful application to and matriculation at health professions schools.

Robert M. Trombly, D.D.S., J.D., is Dean and Professor at A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH). He received his B.S. and D.D.S. from the University of Michigan, completed his General Practice Residency at Hennepin County Medical Center and his J.D. at the University of Denver.

His background includes private practice in general dentistry, practice/risk management consulting and academic/administrative appointments in dental schools at the University of Colorado, Western University of Health Sciences and University of Detroit-Mercy.

Dr. Trombly is an active member of American Dental Association and ADEA. He also serves as site visitor for the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation. He is a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy and a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. His scholarly interests include educational research, community-based education, law and ethics.