University of the Pacific names Nadershahi dean of Dugoni School of Dentistry

University of the Pacific names Nadershahi dean of Dugoni School of Dentistry

June 15, 2016 — University of the Pacific today named Nader Nadershahi dean of the world-renowned Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry on the university’s San Francisco Campus.

Nadershahi, a 1994 graduate of the dental school and member of the faculty since 1995, had served as the interim dean since July 2015.

“Nader is a passionate and tireless champion for Pacific, the school and its faculty and staff,” said Pacific Provost Maria Pallavicini. “He is a proven, thoughtful leader and continues to drive innovation that benefits our students, the dental school and all of Pacific. He is the right person to ensure that the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry continues to be a premier dental school amid the evolving landscapes in health care and education.”

Pallavicini praised Nadershahi for helping to raise the university’s profile and building a collaborative and inclusive culture, while building new partnerships with community health and business leaders. Nadershahi has held various roles at the dental school, including several faculty positions in all areas. He has also held leadership roles at the school for the past two decades, as a group practice administrator, department chair, executive associate dean and associate dean of academic affairs.

“Leading the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is an incredible opportunity,” Nadershahi said. “We have positioned Dugoni to provide the best educational opportunity for our students and we will continue to build on that success with dedicated faculty and cutting-edge technology. I am very proud to have been named dean of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.”

Nadershahi said that he intends to continue the model of education he experienced at Dugoni when he was a student, focusing on mutual respect, high standards, dignity and self-worth.

“Humanism is part of our culture here and I think that gives us a competitive advantage,” he said. “Our students have the benefit of being exposed to that culture and it really makes a difference in what kind of practitioners they become.”

Nadershahi holds a doctorate degree in education from Pacific’s Gladys L. Benerd School of Education and an MBA from Eberhardt School of Business. He is a fellow of the International and American College of Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry International and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Nadershahi also owns and operates a private general dentistry practice in San Anselmo, California, with his wife, Niloufar Nadershahi, who is a 1991 Pacific alumna.

The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, founded in 1896, is the flagship of Pacific’s high-tech campus at 155 Fifth St. in San Francisco, which also includes academic programs launched in fall 2015 in audiology, analytics, food studies and music therapy.

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