Candidates for ASDA Executive Committee

In This Section

Elections for ASDA's next Executive Committee, including the President, two Vice Presidents, and the Speaker of the House, will take place at Annual Session. Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from the candidates, discuss with their caucus, and cast votes.

Candidates for President/Vice President

Honesty Boone

Honesty Boone, Los Angeles ‘27

My journey with ASDA began before dental school, at a time when I was simply trying to find direction in the profession. As a pre-dental student navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic, ASDA became the organization that shaped me greatly. A chapter-led pre-dental summer series helped me refine my personal statement, prepare for the DAT, and connect with schools I had only imagined applying to. But what stayed with me most was the mentorship. Having someone offer their time, share their experiences, and reassure me that I belonged made all the difference.

When I started dental school, I quickly realized that ASDA was far bigger than I had known. At my first district conference, I walked into a room full of vibrant students from different programs and different stages of their journey, and yet the sense of connection was immediate. People were eager to share advice, talk about their path to dentistry, and learn from one another. That experience showed me that ASDA is more than an organization: it is a community that cares deeply about us as people.

A few months later, I attended Lobby Day. Standing alongside dental students and dentists as we met with legislators, I watched our community transform into a unified voice. It was the first time I fully understood how advocacy shapes our future and why it is essential that students are at the table. Lobby Day demonstrated how deeply ASDA cares about the issues impacting us every day, from the affordability of dental education to the policies that affect our training and our ability to care for patients. Witnessing this collective purpose strengthened my belief in the power of our organization.

These moments, first feeling supported, then connected, and ultimately recognizing our shared purpose, are why I am running for President. Having experienced ASDA at the chapter, district, and national levels, I want every member, whether brand new or highly involved, to feel what ASDA has given me: direction, community, and empowerment.

My goal is to strengthen what already makes ASDA extraordinary: our unity, our commitment to the profession, and our role in organized dentistry. As President, I will work to enhance transparency across the local, district, and national levels through clear and consistent communication. I aim to ensure every member sees the direct value of their membership through meaningful benefits and strong advocacy for dental students, the future of our profession, and the patients we serve.

ASDA shaped my journey. I hope to give back by leading our organization forward, amplifying student voices, supporting professional growth, and ensuring every member feels ASDA Fever..

Honesty Boone Short Answer Questions

Honesty Boone CV

Utsavi Kapadia

Utsavi Kapadia, Tufts ‘27

As an International Dental Program student, I have experienced firsthand the unique challenges and opportunities faced by diverse student populations. My journey navigating an international program alongside traditional dental students has shaped my commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and advocacy. My vision as ASDA President or Vice President is to build a national community that empowers all students, amplifies their voices, and prepares them to lead the future of dentistry with confidence and integrity.

Inclusive Engagement and Leadership Development

ASDA’s greatest strength is its ability to unite students across programs, backgrounds, and experiences. I am committed to expanding mentorship networks, strengthening leadership pathways, and ensuring that students, including IDP, advanced standing, and underrepresented groups, feel fully represented and supported. By broadening outreach and creating more structured opportunities for involvement, we can cultivate a more connected and empowered national membership.

Future-Ready Education and Technological Innovation

The rapid evolution of dentistry demands that students be prepared for emerging technologies such as AI-supported diagnostics, digital workflows, and telehealth. I will champion initiatives that provide national programming, hands-on exposure, and ethical frameworks to guide the responsible integration of new technologies into clinical practice. Ensuring students understand and can apply these tools is essential for maintaining excellence and advancing patient care.

Student-Led Policy and Advocacy Incubators

I envision the creation of national student-led policy incubators that allow students to design, research, and pilot innovative proposals addressing dental education, public health, and organized dentistry. These incubators will empower students to lead meaningful change, strengthen critical thinking and advocacy skills, and contribute solutions that shape the future of our profession. By giving students a platform to create and innovate, ASDA reinforces its role as a powerful voice in organized dentistry.

Wellness, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility

Dental school is demanding, and supporting student wellness is essential to academic and professional success. I will advocate for expanded mental health resources, wellness programming, and resilience-building initiatives across national ASDA platforms. Additionally, I will promote sustainability within dental schools and student-run clinics, encouraging environmentally responsible practices. Strengthening community outreach and service programs will allow students to address oral health disparities and expand ASDA’s impact on public health.

Through these initiatives, I aim to position ASDA as a forward-thinking organization that champions innovation, collaboration, and the diverse experiences of all dental students. My leadership style emphasizes listening, transparency, and empowerment. I believe every student should feel that ASDA is their space, a community where they are supported, inspired, and equipped to succeed.

With a commitment to inclusivity, advocacy, wellness, and future-ready education, I am prepared to lead ASDA confidently into the next chapter, ensuring our organization continues to uplift students and strengthen the profession of dentistry.

Utsavi Kapadia Short Answer Questions

Utsavi Kapadia CV

Raven King

Raven King, Virginia ‘27

It’s not an exaggeration to say I wouldn’t be in dental school without ASDA. In undergrad, I was unsure of my path and seriously questioning whether medicine was still right for me. It wasn’t until I attended an ASDA pre-dental day on fateful Saturday morning, that the course of my life would completely change. That opportunity opened the door to a profession and an organization that have shaped my growth, my confidence, and the way I want to practice and treat patients. For that, I am endlessly grateful.

ASDA has prepared me not only to be a better clinician, but a stronger person and advocate. I used to be terrified to speak in front of a crowded room and hesitant to voice my thoughts. Today, I stand confidently, speak boldly, and advocate proudly. ASDA taught me the importance of using my voice and the responsibility we all share in protecting and advancing our profession.

Because ASDA gave me those opportunities at a crucial time in my life, I want to ensure other students, especially those who may not have access to mentorship or pre-dental resources, have that same chance. I hope to strengthen our national pre-dental program at undergrad institutions so more students can envision themselves in this career and feel supported from the very beginning of their journey.

What was most exciting to me about pursuing dentistry was the opportunity to one day own my own practice and work independently. Although this is still a possibility, I’ve found that those perspectives are not as often showcased during ASDA conferences and meetings. My hope is to build upon current and new relationships with organizations that specifically support the independent dental practice model so there is more equal representation. Students should be given the same exposure to all practice models to make the most informed decisions for what suits them best and their future career goals.

I also want to spark a renewed excitement for organized dentistry among current students that transcends ASDA, which continues beyond graduation and well into their careers. My goal is to deepen student involvement with local and state dental associations and help build bridges that strengthen ASDA’s partnerships within organized dentistry. By nurturing these relationships, we can create more meaningful collaboration and a stronger presence for student voices.

Finally, I want to improve the member experience within ASDA so that every student, not just chapter leaders or delegates, feels the true value of their membership. Too many students see ASDA as something that benefits only a select few. I want every member, especially those who may feel uninvolved or disconnected, to feel represented and recognize their value in being a member within this great organization. I want to reimagine ASDA as a place where every voice matters and every member feels heard. Together, we can build an organization that not only endures, but thrives, for another 55 years and beyond!

Raven King Short Answer Questions

Raven King CV

Alexon Tiem

Alexon Tiem, Kansas City-Joplin ‘27

My platform focuses on strengthening ASDA’s foundation by improving how we communicate, advocate, and care for the wellbeing of every dental student.

In times of rapid change in our profession, students should never feel disconnected from the conversations and decisions that shape their education and future. ASDA has already taken steps to keep members informed and engaged, and I want to build on that foundation. My goal is to strengthen how information flows between national leadership and members, making updates easier to follow, providing clearer context around ongoing work, and maintaining ways for students to share concerns and ideas. Transparency is about trust. When members see that their concerns are taken seriously and their perspectives can influence direction, it reinforces ASDA’s identity as a student-led organization that is grounded in the voices of its members.

Advocacy has always been at the heart of ASDA, and in this moment it carries a new level of urgency. Shifting federal policies shape our future in this profession, but those discussions are being made today. ASDA has already built an incredible foundation that makes it easier than ever for students to get involved, but my focus is on closing the gap between those who already have a passion for advocacy and those who haven’t yet found their way into it. Creating more chances for students to be involved at the grassroots level, framing complex issues in a way that is easier to understand, connecting policy discussions from legislature to everyday student life, I want to push for advocacy spaces to feel welcome to students who are new to the process. By supporting chapter and district efforts and working alongside our partners in organized dentistry, we can keep dental students at the table when decisions about our education and profession are being made.

Wellness should be a standard prerequisite for sustainable training and long term success in dental school. Through my work with THRIVE, a program at my school that helps incoming students navigate stress, expectations, and burnout, I have seen firsthand how losing a sense of purpose can accelerate burnout and disconnect students from their purpose. With ASDA’s new Wellness Council, we have an opportunity to move beyond singular initiatives and toward a culture that consistently supports mental health. I want to help reframe wellness in a way that is built upon student experiences and strengthened through partnerships with organizations that are trained to support mental wellbeing. By having proactive systems that help students preserve purpose and mitigate burnout in dental school, students are more likely to seek support early and build the resilience that will carry them through both school and practice.

As someone who started in ASDA feeling small and learning everything from the ground up, I know how easy it is to wonder whether your voice really matters. I want every member to feel informed, represented, and supported. If elected, I will lead with transparency, humility, and a genuine respect for the diverse experiences of dental students across the country.