Porter named Assistant Dean for Student & Resident Affairs, Advanced Education, and Director of Graduate Studies

Mercedes Porter, DDS ’09, is the Assistant Dean for Student & Resident Affairs, Advanced Education, and Director of Graduate Studies, effective October 4.

Porter has served as Assistant Dean for Student and Resident Affairs since 2023; her new title reflects the absorption of Advanced Education into her role.

Porter earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the School of Dentistry in 2009, then completing a General Practice Residency in 2010. She first joined the school as an adjunct assistant professor in 2011, before becoming clinical associate professor in 2013. She has served the school in several capacities, including as a skills assessor for the Board of Dentistry, an ADA faculty advisor, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and course director. She  completed her Master of Arts in Dental Education in 2016.

As Assistant Dean for Student and Resident Affairs, Porter has successfully supported learner needs in personal, academic and professional realms. Her team has executed large-scale events including White Coat Ceremonies, Orientation, Senior Banquets and Commencement; provided career guidance to learners; supported learner accommodations and managed crisis intervention. She has played a critical, multifaceted role in developing, revising and implementing institutional policies and student handbooks as well as providing support for numerous Committees.

Porter will continue that work and take on the same responsibilities for learners pursuing graduate and advanced education—convening the advanced education committee and acting as a liaison with the Graduate School.

Her new executive leadership position provides integrated oversight of student/trainee affairs, residency support and graduate education across all academic tracks within the School of Dentistry. The Assistant Dean serves as the central administrative advocate for students and residents in all programs of the School of Dentistry. Additionally, this role oversees university-level graduate alignment, standardized policy implementation across all programs and direct administration as Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for the Master of Science in Dentistry program.

She takes on the role as Thorsten Gruenheid, DDS, PhD, MPH, MHA, steps down as Assistant Dean for Advanced Education. Gruenheid will remain in his role as professor of orthodontics, where he will focus on teaching, research and patient care.

“I am grateful to Dr. Gruenheid for his service to our advanced education program over the past three years,” shared Marcia Campos, DDS, MS, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, in a message to the School of Dentistry community. “Join me in thanking him for his service, and in congratulating Dr. Porter on her expanded role!”