Ann Arbor, MI — September 7, 2012 — Five graduates of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry were recently elected to the School’s Board of Governors.  The four dentists and one dental hygienist will serve a three-year term that will end in September 2015. 

Five members of the 15-member Board are elected annually.  This year’s five new members are:

• Sheree Duff, RDH, MS, a 1980 graduate of the U-M dental hygiene program who worked over 15 years in a periodontal specialty practice.  The founder of two dental hygiene programs as well as two dental assisting programs at Baker College, she currently is associate dean of Dental Sciences there.

• Dr. Wayne Olsen, DDS, a 1981 graduate of the School of Dentistry who served in the U.S. Army for 25 years with worldwide clinical and academic assignments as an oral surgeon and dental educator.  He practices in Traverse City, Cadillac, and Alpena.

• Dr. Carl Pogoncheff, DDS, MS, earned his dental degree in 2009 and a master’s in prosthodontics in 2012 from the School of Dentistry.  He has a private practice in Lansing, Michigan and is a faculty member at the School of Dentistry in prosthodontics.

• Dr. Michael Palaszek, DDS, received his dental degree from U-M in 1982.  He has served on the Peer Review Committee of the West Michigan District Dental Society and is currently secretary for the Kent County Dental Society.  He practices in Grand Rapids.

• Dr. Scott Schulz, DDS, MS, earned his dental degree from U-M in 1996 and a master’s degree in orthodontics in 2003.  He is a board certified orthodontist with offices in Traverse City and Charlevoix.  He is also a specialty examiner for the Michigan Board of Dentistry.

Established in 1962, the 15-member Board of Governors is an advisory group whose major roles include:

• Stimulating a continued interest in the School of Dentistry and U-M.
• Encouraging outstanding student candidates to apply for admission to the School.
• Offering opportunities for Board members to become more familiar with the School’s programs that are designed to advance dental education.
• Enhancing the network of those who teach and practice in dentistry and dental hygiene at the School.
• Overseeing and administering the Hall of Honor.

Five other individuals are ex officio members of the Board:  Dean of the School of Dentistry, Dr. Peter Polverini; the Executive Director of the U-M Alumni Association, Steve Grafton; the Director of Alumni Relations, Development, and Continuing Education at the School of Dentistry, Richard Fetchiet; the School’s liaison to the Alumni Association, Janet Souder Wilson; and a student representative, Anh Pham.

Other members of the Board of Governor are:

• Ms. Kathleen Early, DH 1977, Lakeland, MI
• Dr. Kerry Kaysserian, DDS 1981, Traverse City, MI
• Dr. Jeff Smith, DDS 1982, MS 1985, Grand Rapids, MI
• Dr. Jerry Booth, DDS 1961, MS 1964, Jackson, MI
• Dr. Janis Chmura Duski, DDS 1989, Gaylord, MI
• Dr. Frank Alley, DDS 1981, Portage, MI
• Dr. Sondra Moore Gunn, DDS 1978, MS 1980, Ann Arbor, MI
• Mrs. Jackie (Bander) Solberg, DH 1986, Grand Rapids, MI
• Dr. Michael Cerminaro, DDS 1986, Muskegon, MI
• Dr. M.H. “Reggie” VanderVeen, DDS 1976, Grand Rapids, MI