ASDA introduces students to organized dentistry and provides opportunities to develop leadership skills. The association prepares you to be a future leader — whether you hold positions in the ADA or a state society, your community or in your own dental practice.
There are a variety of national leadership opportunities for 2012-13. Applications for executive committee, speaker of the House and appointed applications were due Jan. 4, 2012 (applications are no longer being accepted). District Trustee applications are due by Mar. 2, 2012.
Elected Positions (elected by House of Delegates or chapter delegates at Annual Session):
Appointed Positions (selected from a pool of applicants by board of trustees):
Changes to Leadership Roles
The ASDA board of trustees passed a proposal that changed the structure of the association’s leadership positions. Starting in 2012, the following changes will be implemented:
ASDA will continue to appoint four externs each summer.
Although ASDA has eliminated ten positions that were available in 2011-12, there will be an overall increase in available positions for the 2012-13 year. These changes will positively impact the future of the association and prepare our leaders for a lifetime in organized dentistry.
How to Apply
Only active ASDA predoctoral members may apply. We strongly encourage applicants to contact the current leaders to learn more about the position before applying. Application materials for the 2012-13 are no longer being accepted.
Elections and Appointments
Appointed leaders will be selected by the 2011-12 board of trustees in January 2012. Elected leaders (the executive committee, speaker of the House and district trustees) will be selected at Annual Session, Feb. 29-March 3, 2012, in Minneapolis, Minn. All 2012-13 national leaders will begin their term at the commencement of Annual Session.
Leadership Funding to Events
Funding is provided for required meetings and includes: transportation to/from meetings, meals, hotel accommodations, a per diem based on the length of meeting and reimbursement for baggage fees. Click here for a list of national meetings.
Elected Positions:
Executive Committee
The executive committee consists of the president, two vice presidents and the executive director (ASDA staff). The president and vice presidents are elected at Annual Session.
The president serves as the spokesperson for the association. He or she interacts with leaders and members at all levels and has the opportunity to address issues important to ASDA with organizations including ADA, ADEA and other dental student groups. The president works closely with the vice presidents and staff in making key decisions to further the association. At the end of the one-year term, the president serves an additional year as immediate past president. In this role, he or she will provide historical knowledge to the board to guide them in their decision making. The president also serves on ASDA’s Strategic Plan Oversight Committee (SPOC) with the executive director, council chairs and editor-in-chief to monitor the association’s progress of the goals in the strategic plan.
President Duties
Executive Committee Application
The two vice presidents work closely with the president in making decisions in the best interest of the association. The vice presidents may serve as spokespersons for ASDA when requested. They also have the opportunity to interact with ASDA leaders and members as well as leaders at outside organizations.
Vice President Duties
Executive Committee Application
District Trustees
District trustees are elected by their district at the ASDA Annual Session to serve a one-year term. They provide guidance to chapters in their district and act as the official liaison between the local chapters and national ASDA. Trustees organize district meetings and are responsible for communications to chapter members through conference calls and newsletters. Trustees connect with members at the local level and help develop future leaders in the association.
Each district trustee becomes a member of the board of trustees, which consists of the executive committee, eleven district trustees, the editor-in-chief, immediate past president and the speaker of the House of Delegates. The board of trustees is ASDA’s governing body and is responsible for the administration and management of the association.
District Trustee Duties
District Trustee Application (due before March 2, 2012)
Speaker of the House of Delegates
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The role of the speaker of the House of Delegates is to preside over the House of Delegates business meeting at Annual Session and to guide members through the resolution process. The speaker should be familiar with parliamentary procedure and the policy-making process. The speaker serves a one-year term and is elected by the House of Delegates during Annual Session.
Speaker of the House Duties
Speaker of the House Application
Appointed Positions:
Editorial Board
The ASDA editorial board is comprised of the editor-in-chief, electronic editor and four contributing editors. Each member serves a one-year term. The editorial board provides editorial direction for ASDA’s print publications Mouth and ASDA News, and blog, Mouthing off. They work closely with the ASDA communications staff to determine the content and themes for each issue. All editorial board members solicit authors and then work with contributors to develop topics and edit their article.
The editor-in-chief serves as chair of the editorial board and a member of the board of trustees. The editor-in-chief also serves on ASDA’s Strategic Plan Oversight Committee (SPOC) with the executive director, council chairs and president to monitor the association’s progress of the goals in the strategic plan.
Editor-in-Chief Duties
Editor-in-Chief Application
Contributing editors focus on issues of concern to dental students and new dentists and identify relevant article topics. Contributing editors are responsible for recruiting and contacting authors for ASDA’s publications and writing materials as needed.
Contributing Editor Duties
Contributing Editor Application
NEW in 2012! The electronic editor manages ASDA’s blog, Mouthing Off. Specific responsibilities include full editorial discretion over blog content and identification and management of blog contributors. The electronic editor must write and review blog posts and accept and review material for publication. This leader will maintain regular contact with each member of the editorial board and present blog-related recommendations to the board of trustees for consideration. A report will be shared with the editor-in-chief to be presented at each board of trustees meeting.
Electronic Editor Duties
Electronic Editor Application
Councils
ASDA’s councils are instrumental in creating projects and initiatives to further the association’s goals. The councils represent areas that are vital to dental students and the profession: education and licensure, professional issues, membership and communications. Councils act on resolutions passed by the House of Delegates and help to identify programs and recommend policies to meet the needs and interests of dental students.
Council chairs supervise and direct the activities of the council and facilitate council meetings. They may serve as advisors to the board of trustees and as representatives to other dental organizations. They monitor issues and submit articles for publication by the association. At the end of their term, chairs attend ASDA's Annual Session and report to the House of Delegates on their activities. Council chairs also serve on ASDA’s Strategic Plan Oversight Committee (SPOC) with the executive director, president and editor-in-chief to monitor the association’s progress of the goals in the strategic plan.
NEW in 2012! Council associates are appointed by the board of trustees. Associates will serve as subcommittee chairs and use their year of service to advance their knowledge and expertise on the council’s initiatives. They monitor issues and submit articles for publication by the association. Associates are encouraged to apply for the council chair position the following year.
Council on Education and Licensure
Council on Education and Licensure serves the association by providing leadership in the areas of dental education, research and licensure. The council monitors the administration, construction and scoring of the National Board Dental Examinations, Part I and Part II. The council educates members about the licensure process. They maintain relationships with licensure communities of interest, including examination boards and state dental boards and actively pursues opportunities to move ASDA’s licensure policies forward. Other council responsibilities include investigating and developing resources for members that supplement their dental education on topics such as practice management and lunch and learns.
The chair of the Council on Education and Licensure provides leadership in the areas of dental education, research and licensure. The council chair monitors the administration, construction and scoring of the National Board Dental Examinations, Part I and Part II. The chair educates members about the licensure process and advocates for changes.
Council on Education and Licensure Chair Duties
Council on Education and Licensure Chair Application
Council on Education and Licensure Associate Duties
Council on Education and Licensure Associate Application
Council on Membership
The chair of the Council on Membership promotes the recruitment and retention of members. This council provides direct assistance to individual chapters or trustees, proposes new member benefits and develops new resources for ASDA chapters. The council chair also may serve as a representative to the ADA Council on Membership or other ADA councils. The chair of the Council on Membership participates in the planning and delivery of membership recruitment and retention sessions at ASDA events and chairs the Ideal ASDA Chapter Committee.
Council on Membership Chair Duties
Council on Membership Chair Application
Council on Membership Associate Duties
Council on Membership Associate Application
Council on Professional Issues
The chair of the Council on Professional Issues serves the association as a resource on dental practice administration and professional issues, such as ethics and barriers to care. The Council on Professional Issues has developed resources such as the White Paper on Ethics and Professionalism in Dental School, to educate members on this issue and provide suggestions for improvement. The council also reviews ASDA’s Code of Ethics and recommends changes as necessary. The council chair may be appointed to serve as a representative to an ADA council.
Council on Professional Issues Chair Duties
Council on Professional Issues Chair Application
Council on Professional Issues Associate Duties
Council on Professional Issues Associate Application
Council on Communications
The chair of the Council on Communications serves the association by providing leadership in the area of internal communications. The mission of the Council on Communication is to improve communications between ASDA’s leadership and membership by creating and disseminating media and fostering and evaluating feedback from members.
Council on Communications Chair Duties
Council on Communications Chair Application
Council on Communications Associate Duties
Council on Communications Associate Application
Legislative Grassroots Network
Legislative Grassroots Network (LGN) serves the association by monitoring and reporting on current legislation relevant to dental students and the profession. A major responsibility is planning National Dental Student Lobby Day. The LGN provides assistance to chapters in organizing grassroots political activities. The ADPAC Student Director, a member of the LGN, represents ASDA on the ADPAC board of directors and has full voting rights.
The Legislative Grassroots Network (LGN) presents dental students with a unique opportunity to participate in the legislative process firsthand and serves as a training ground for those seeking a career in dental health politics. The LGN is composed of a chair, ADPAC student director and five regional legislative coordinators, who are appointed by the board for one-year terms.
The chair of the LGN monitors state and national legislative activities and shares legislative information with the LGN regional legislative coordinators. The chair advises the regional legislative coordinators on organizing grassroots political activities, such as meet and greets and lobby days. The chair of the LGN is responsible for conducting an orientation and planning program at the Annual Session for incoming LGN members. The LGN chair is also responsible for assisting in the planning of National Dental Student Lobby Day. The LGN chair may serve as liaison to the ADA Council on Government Affairs. The LGN chair also serves on ASDA’s Strategic Plan Oversight Committee (SPOC) with the executive director, president, council chairs and editor-in-chief to monitor the association’s progress of the goals in the strategic plan.
LGN Chair Duties
LGN Chair Application
The ADPAC student director assists the chair with activities of the LGN and will chair meetings of the LGN in the absence of the chair. The ADPAC student director serves as liaison to the ADPAC board of directors, with full voting rights.
ADPAC Student Director Duties
ADPAC Student Director Application
Legislative coordinators (LCs) work by the direction of the chair of the LGN. They represent the chapters in their region and guide chapters on grassroots activities such as ADPAC drives, state lobby days and email campaigns.
Legislative Coordinator Duties
Legislative Coordinator Application
Externships
The externship program allows dental students to experience organized dentistry in a variety of areas, including national and state health policy legislation and association management. Externs work four weeks over the summer in ADA’s Washington, D.C. office or ASDA headquarters in Chicago. Externs receive a stipend, transportation to and from Chicago or Washington, D.C., and student housing. Externships offer an exciting first step to becoming leaders in organized dentistry.
Two Chicago administrative externs are selected to work at ASDA’s central office, becoming directly involved in many aspects of the operation of the association. Externs spend time in each department of the central office and have specific responsibilities including the completion of projects assigned by ASDA staff.
Chicago Extern Duties
Chicago Extern Application
Two Washington National Health Policy externs are selected to work in the Washington, D.C. office of the ADA, becoming directly involved in the legislative process through congressional lobbying, contact with health policy experts, and extensive research and position development. Externs have specific responsibilities including the completion of projects assigned by the ADA staff. Externs are also expected to identify projects to meet the needs and interests of dental students and to develop and propose association policy, or policy revision, as needed.
Washington, D.C. Extern Duties
Washington, D.C. Extern Application