Dr. Seema Ashrafi Named Associate Dean at UIC College of Dentistry

CHICAGO - Feb. 25, 2014 - PRLog -- Dr. Seema Ashrafi, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics, has been named Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.

         Her primary responsibility is the academic components of the DMD, International Dentist Degree, Advanced Standing DMD, and six specialty certificate programs. She oversees admissions for all students in the specialty programs and the student registration process for all programs.

         In her new role, Dr. Ashrafi also chairs the Subcommittees on Student Promotions and chairs the Institutional Effectiveness Committee, coordinates the annual Faculty Conference, and coordinates accreditation of academic programs. She approves students to take national Boards, oversees the Faculty Evaluation and Course Evaluation process, and performs a variety of other academically related duties as well.

         “It’s a very exciting position,” Dr. Ashrafi said. “There are new challenges every day. It seems like when I solve one challenge, another one comes to take its place.

         “But it’s a very nice job and a big responsibility, and I plan to continue working very hard,” she continued. “I’ve had a great mentor in Interim Dean Dr. Bill Knight, who had this job before me, the staff is helping me tremendously, and I’m working closely with Dr. Susan Rowan, Interim Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs.

         “We’re all the same people; we’re just performing different roles,” Dr. Ashrafi said.

         She noted that her main goal is to help students. “I am the students’ advocate, and that’s exciting for me,” Dr. Ashrafi said. “I’m there for the students, and I want to help them and make sure everything at the College facilitates them doing their best work.”

         Dr. Ashrafi earned her DDS in 1993, her MS in Histology in 1994, and her Certificate in Periodontics in 1999, all from the College. She has been on the faculty since 1999.

         Dr. Ashrafi has earned the American Academy of Periodontology Clinical Teaching Award, a Crystal Apple Award, a Golden Apple Award, and a Chicago Dental Society Foundation Clinical Faculty Fellowship.

         Dr. Knight noted that Dr. Ashrafi “enjoys the respect and admiration of her faculty colleagues, the predoctoral and postgraduate students, and the staff members of the College. Her welcoming personality, genuine caring for all, and capacity for developing, implementing, and evaluating curricular innovation will continue to serve us well as she leads the academic pursuits of the College.”

The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry website is dentistry.uic.edu.