School of Dentistry names new dean

Lily T. Garcia, DDS, MS, FACP, has been named dean of the Texas A&M University School of Dentistry and will begin at the Dallas location in October.

Garcia currently serves as dean and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. She contributed to initial strategic planning and development at UNLV for a nascent academic health center for Nevada.

Prior to UNLV, she served as associate dean for education at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, as well as other leadership roles—division head and department chair at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and department chair at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She is a board-certified prosthodontist, Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists.

She received her certificate and master of science degree in prosthodontics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, respectively. She earned her doctoral of dental surgery degree from Baylor College of Dentistry and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Garcia has a record of publications in peer-reviewed journals, published chapters and numerous books, including the most recent “Physical Evaluation and Treatment Planning in Dental Practice.” She is a director on the Editorial Council of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry and has a record of national leadership roles, including chair of the board for the American Dental Education Association and president of the American College of Prosthodontists.

She is a Fellow of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program and a Fellow of the Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Program.