The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) announced the election of new officers and presented organizational updates during the annual Dental Testing & Regulatory Summit and Educators Conference held in Grapevine, Texas. The five-day meeting, co-hosted with the American Association of Dental Administrators (AADA) and the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB), brought together dental professionals, educators, and regulators to discuss examination practices, licensure standards, and public protection.
Dr. Wesley Thomas of the District of Columbia was elected treasurer, and Diane Klemann, RDH, of Montana was elected secretary. Both began the first year of two-year terms. Dental Members At Large are Dr. Kevin Collins of North Carolina and Dr. Robert Lauf of North Dakota, each serving third one-year terms, along with first-time members Dr. Jonna Hongo of Oregon, Dr. Melodie Jones of Alabama, and Dr. Merlin Young of North Carolina. Dental Hygiene Members At Large are Heather Hardy, RDH, of Arizona, serving a third one-year term, and Susan Johnston, RDH, of Ohio, beginning her first. Maureen Hankin, RDH, of New York was elected to the Nominating Committee. The Council on Examinations chair and vice chair, Dr. Conrad McVea of Louisiana and Renee McCoy-Collins of the District of Columbia, were introduced to the General Assembly for the first time.
“The overwhelming success of this Summit reflects the dental community’s commitment to excellence and collaboration,” said Dr. Mark Armstrong, chair of ADEX. “Following our recent merger, it was particularly gratifying to see such strong engagement. I extend my sincere congratulations to all newly elected leaders who will help guide our organization into this exciting new chapter.”
The summit included a panel discussion, “Becoming the American Board of Dental Examiners,” facilitated by Chief Executive Officer Alexander Vandiver. Participants discussed the organization’s history and ongoing coordination with state boards and educational institutions. “The discussions highlighted how our unified approach strengthens relationships with state boards, candidates, and schools while reinforcing our commitment to fairness, reliability, and board oversight in the licensure process,” Vandiver said.
According to ADEX, Director of Examinations Dr. Benjamin Wall reported that the organization conducted examinations at 607 sites nationwide, serving more than 12,000 licensure candidates in 2025. Dr. Arthur Jee of Maryland received the Dr. Guy Shampaine/Dr. David Low Award for contributions to dental licensure and examination standards.
ADEX develops and administers national examinations for initial licensure in dentistry and dental hygiene, with exams accepted or required by law in 51 United States jurisdictions. The organization reports serving 98% of dental licensure candidates and 85% of dental hygiene licensure candidates nationwide. More information is available at adextesting.org.
