01 December 2025

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ASOD students selected as ADCFP fellows

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Four Adams School of Dentistry students were recently selected for the ADEA Academic Dental Careers Fellowship Program. 

• Anirudh Kompella, DDS candidate ‘27, advised by Daniela Peressoni Vieira Schuldt, DDS, MSc, PhD
• Riggan Ayscue, DDS candidate ‘27, advised by Caroline Sawicki, DDS, PhD
• Kenneth Sequeira, DDS candidate ‘27, advised by Ashley Manlove, DMD, MS, PhD
• Anna Russell, DDS candidate ‘27, advised by Kelly Mitchell, DDS, MS

“We are thrilled to welcome this new cohort of ADCFP Fellows. Anirudh, Riggan, Kenneth and Anna stood out for their exceptional curiosity and proactive interest in immersing into and exploring the full breadth of academic dental careers. The fellowship facilitates a unique, one-on-one mentorship experience that provides them a real-world window into the day-to-day life of a faculty educator and supports their participation and presentation at the annual ADEA meeting,” said Kimon Divaris, DDS, PhD, chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, and the James Bawden Distinguished Professor. 

The ADCFP program aims to grow tomorrow’s dental faculty and researchers by providing current faculty with tools on how to mentor allied, advanced education and predoctoral dental students and help them develop their plans for pursuing an academic career.

The program provides each academic dental institution a flexible framework that functions as a window for students into the “day-to-day” life and experiences of dental faculty at academic dental institutions through one-on-one mentorship.

“The ADCFP is a vital part of our mission to broaden the pipeline of future leaders  and invest in the next generation of academic dentistry. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to their faculty mentors — Drs. Daniela Peressoni Vieira Schuldt, Caroline Sawicki, Ashley Manlove, and Kelly Mitchell — for committing their time and expertise to guide these fellows,” Divaris said. 

Source: https://dentistry.unc.edu/