Dawn R. Smith, PhD, RDH, is a professor, director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, and a faculty member in the Department of Comprehensive Care at Howard University, College of Dentistry, in Washington, DC. She actively contributes to national dental education standards through her service on the Commission on Dental Accreditation Dental Hygiene Objective Structured Clinical Examinations Committee, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations Fairness and Sensitivity Committee, and the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination Test Constructor Committee. Smith serves as principal investigator for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program and is a frequent HRSA grant reviewer. Her interdisciplinary expertise bridges clinical practice and social science as both a dental hygienist and medical sociologist.