18 December 2025

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Three New Professorships and a Historic Gathering of Former School of Dentistry Deans

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Three School of Dentistry faculty members have received professorships named for two former deans and an assistant dean of the school.

The professors and the deans were honored Dec. 3 during a reception hosted by University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso at the President’s House. They are:

• Dr. Isabelle Lombaert, an associate professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Prosthodontics, is the William E. Kotowicz Collegiate Professor of Dentistry. Dr. Kotowicz served as Interim Dean of the dental school from 1987-89 and as Dean from 1995-2002.
• Dr. Peng Li, an associate professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Prosthodontics and a Research Associate Professor at the U-M Life Sciences Institute, is the J. Bernard Machen Collegiate Professor in Life Sciences. Dr. Machen was Dean of the dental school from 1989-95.
• Dr. Cristiane Squarize, a professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, is the Marilyn W. Woolfolk Collegiate Professor of Dentistry. Dr. Woolfolk devoted 42 years of service to the school, retiring in 2014 as Professor Emerita of Dentistry and Assistant Dean Emerita of Student Services.

President Grasso noted that the professorships were installed during the dental school’s sesquicentennial year. He said the school’s longstanding legacy of excellence dating to its founding in 1875 has continued to the present day with its lofty status as the No. 1 dental school in the world, as ranked by an international academic review organization. The professorships are a fitting way to honor the legacy, he said, because they combine acknowledging the distinguished careers of past faculty and deans while looking ahead to the next generation, “recognizing the potential and excitement of the future.”

“When I say ‘Look to Michigan,’ it is no truer than looking at the dental school, because there is nothing that surpasses this dental school. We are incredibly proud of it,” Grasso said.

School of Dentistry Dean Jacques Nör said the vision and dedication of Drs. Kotowicz, Machen and Woolfolk have shaped the school in profound ways, while the academic and research contributions of the three outstanding current faculty members embody the school’s legacy of excellence.  “Moments like these connect our rich history with our brightest future, recognizing its illustrious past while envisioning and creating the future of dental education and research,” Nör said.

U-M Provost Laurie McCauley, a longtime dental school faculty member who was Dean of the school from 2013-22, said the legacy of excellence is not something that happened last year or five year ago or 10 years ago. “I’m really honored to be here with the seven current and former deans, all of whom put the school at the top of its game,” she said.

The event’s guest list of former deans – in addition to Machen, Kotowicz, McCauley and Nör – included Dr. Richard Christiansen, dean from 1982-87; Dr. Peter Polverini, dean from 2003-13; and Dr. Jan Hu, Interim Dean from 2022-23. Christiansen is retired; Polverini is a faculty member, as is Hu, who is also chair of the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Prosthodontics. When the group of seven posed for a photograph after the professorship ceremony, it was the most deans of the dental school ever gathered together in the 150-year history of the school.

The faculty who received the professorships have widely varying experience and research interests.

Dr. Lombaert is a biomedical scientist whose research integrates stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and translational dental science. She received her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees at Ghent University in Belgium and her PhD in Medical Science from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. Her postdoctoral and research fellowships at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, were marked by numerous honors, including the Young Investigator Award from the European Society for Radiation Biology and the NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence.

Lombaert joined U-M in 2015 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences at the School of Dentistry and a faculty member at the Biointerfaces Institute. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022. Dr. Lombaert leads research focused on stem cell and gene-based therapies. The central question driving her laboratory is how stem cells participate in the formation of branching organs and respond to external and internal cues in normal, damaged or diseased environments. Leveraging this knowledge, her team designs innovative strategies to regenerate new tissues and restore injured organs.

A key translational focus of Lombaert’s work is on hypo-salivation, a painful and debilitating oral health condition commonly experienced by head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, individuals with autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome, and those adversely affected by certain medications. Her team collaborates with clinical and scientific experts to define the molecular and cellular events underlying salivary gland damage and to develop regenerative therapies that can be brought into clinical practice.

Dr. Li is a leading neuroscientist whose research explores the molecular and cellular foundations of the neural control of breathing. He earned his BS in Biological Sciences from Tsinghua University in China and completed his PhD at the University of Southern California, where he investigated molecular pathways involved in cardiovascular development. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Li undertook postdoctoral training at Stanford University, where he applied advanced molecular and genetic techniques to explore the neural circuits governing breathing, notably discovering the neuropeptide circuit responsible for generating sighing – a distinct respiratory pattern.

Li joined U-M in 2018 as an Assistant Professor of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Research Assistant Professor at the Life Sciences Institute, and Assistant Professor of Dentistry. In May 2025, he was promoted to Associate Professor of Dentistry. He leads a dynamic research program employs cutting-edge approaches to dissect the breathing-control circuitry, focusing on how neural populations regulate breathing rhythms and behaviors, including sighing and coughing. A vital part of his research is understanding how these processes malfunction in diseases marked by abnormal breathing.

Li’s work not only advances fundamental knowledge in neurobiology and respiratory physiology, but also contributes to the understanding of pathophysiology in conditions involving disordered breathing. His innovative research has positioned him at the forefront of efforts to translate molecular and genetic insights into potential therapeutic strategies for breathing-related disorders.

Dr. Squarize is a Professor with Tenure and Principal Investigator of the Laboratory of Epithelial Biology at U-M. She earned her DDS from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas School of Dentistry, followed by a master’s and PhD in Oral Pathology from the University of São Paulo School of Dentistry in Brazil.

She received the prestigious Edward Hatton Award from the International Association for Dental Research for her innovative work in head and neck cancer. For six years she was a Fellow at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health, where her work focused on epithelial and cancer biology.

Squarize joined U-M as an assistant professor in 2010, was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2018 and to Professor with tenure in 2023. She received the prestigious Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford Scholar Award and was named a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholar, the first dentist in the country to receive this honor. She also holds an affiliated faculty appointment with the U-M Medical School’s Global REACH program. As an established researcher and member of the Michigan Medicine Rogel Cancer Center, she has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students who have gone on to successful academic careers nationally and internationally.

Squarize’s research explores key molecular signaling pathways and the role of stem cells in epithelial regeneration as well as diseases affecting the skin and oral mucosa. She focuses on critical clinical questions aimed at developing innovative treatments for oral and skin wounds and discovering new therapies for patients with epithelial malignancies especially head and neck cancers.

In 2022, Dr. Squarize was appointed Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the U-M School of Dentistry.

The professorship honoring Dr. William Kotowicz highlights his distinguished career at U-M that spanned several decades. He earned his DDS and MS degrees from U-M in the 1960s, joining the faculty as an assistant professor in 1969. He quickly advanced to associate professor in 1971 and full professor in 1974, later being named the prestigious Roy H. Roberts Professor in 2004. He retired from the School of Dentistry in 2005.

Renowned for his administrative leadership, Kotowicz served in several key roles at the dental school, including interim dean (1987-89), senior associate dean (1989-95), acting dean (1995-96), and dean (1997-2003). Throughout these years, he led the transition committee that completed a major reorganization of the school’s departments, demonstrating his strategic vision and commitment to innovation. He also pioneered a community-based clinical education model, establishing five new partnerships with Michigan communities to expand student outreach and hands-on training. In addition, Kotowicz contributed to university-wide governance, serving on committees such as the Academic Program Group and the Health Sciences Council.

The professorship honoring Dr. J. Bernard Machen is a testament to his standing as a nationally recognized leader in higher education and dental academia. He earned his DDS from St. Louis University, followed by MS and PhD degrees in Pediatric Dentistry and Educational Psychology from the University of Iowa. He began his career in the U.S. Army Institute of Dental Research, serving as Major and Chief of Extension Services from 1973-75 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he served as Associate Professor, Professor, and Assistant/Associate Dean at the School of Dentistry, and also as Clinical Professor at the School of Education. He became Dean of the U-M School of Dentistry in 1989, leading a major school restructuring and initiating innovative curriculum and clinical education changes with his colleague, Dr. William Kotowicz. Machen then served as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at U-M from 1995-97.

Machen served as President of the University of Utah (1998-2003) and President of the University of Florida (2004-14). He is credited with visionary leadership at both institutions, advancing diversity, strengthening academic standards, and expanding public service.

The professorship named for Dr. Marilyn Woolfolk is a reflection of the more than 40 years she devoted to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, building a legacy of resilience, leadership and advocacy. She earned three degrees from U-M – MS 1972, DDS 1978, MPH 1982 – advancing from student to Professor Emerita of Dentistry and Assistant Dean Emerita of Student Services, marking milestones as the school’s first Black female full professor and assistant dean.

Her career showed a strong dedication to public health and diversity. Her roles ranged from faculty member to administrator, consistently prioritizing student outreach and support. Her teaching and scholarship emphasized the need to reduce oral health disparities among underserved populations. For 12 summers, she directed the Traverse City Migrant Program, delivering essential dental care to children of migrant farm workers across Michigan. She also held a joint appointment with the School of Public Health, contributing to community health programs from 1983-98.

Woolfolk continuously advocated for diversity in both dental education and practice. She helped reevaluate admissions processes and expanded student support structures, ensuring more equitable opportunities at U-M. Retiring in 2014, Dr. Woolfolk left an enduring legacy of community engagement, inclusion, and public health.

Source: www.dent.umich.edu