Lasting Impressions | Fall 2014

8 © LASTING IMPRESSIONS Members of the class of 2014 share memorable moments just before the graduation ceremony. Clockwise, from top, are Gary Cardoso; Blerta Abdi, left, Amir Akhavan Malayeri, and Ryan Harris; and Whitney Howard, left, and Janet Maloney. Above, Whitney Howard takes a photograph of herself with classmates (from left) Janet Maloney, Gargi Gajera, and Samantha Steiner. While Howard is launch- ing her career, many of her classmates chose to enter programs to become dental specialists. Keren Castellucci is now a couple of months into an NSU two-year, resi- dency program—affiliated with Joe DiMaggio Chil- dren’s Hospital—to become a pediatric dentist. “I have always wanted to be a children’s dentist,” she said. “I love everything about it.” The class of 2014 holds a special place for Linda Niessen, D.M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P., who celebrates her first year as the college’s dean in October, after serving most recently as a clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at Texas A&M University’s Baylor College of Den- tistry. “This is my first class. This is the class that broke me in,” said Niessen. “These students helped me understand what being a dean at a dental school is all about.” Niessen got to know the class members by hold- ing dinner meetings with groups of 10 to 12. “They have great hearts, and they will be great leaders,” she said. They also are among the best qualified students in the college’s 17-year history. The quality of applicants has risen significantly as the college’s repu- tation has grown, allowing the college to become more selective about which applicants to choose, said Hal Lippman, D.D.S., exec- utive associate dean and assistant professor. While they pursued their degrees, many mem- bers of the class of 2014 worked to improve their school by holding student leadership positions and donating their time and new skills to treat members of the community who couldn’t afford a dentist. As president of the class of 2014, Howard also was very active with student-led initiatives. “Being involved has helped me shape my experience here, and that of my classmates,” said Howard, 26, who previously had served as class vice pres- ident and treasurer. “It has been extremely import- ant for my success in the dental school.” One of her initiatives was creating a student ambassador program to insure that predental students have a good experience during campus visits. As part of the visits, dental students are paired with newcomers to show them the campus, provide information, and answer questions. She then worked to improve that program by propos- ing the even better organized system that is now in place in which ambassadors are voted into the volunteer job by their peers, approved by faculty members, and then receive training. Castellucci, 27, was co-organizer of this year’s Give Kids A Smile day, which was held in March on NSU’s main campus. The event was featured in the American Dental Association’s ADA News magazine. More than 200 volunteer dental students and faculty members provided free treatment valued