02 March 2026

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Building a welcoming community celebrated by School of Dentistry at event announcing annual Ida Gray Awards

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The longstanding and ongoing effort to enhance a shared sense of community at the School of Dentistry was celebrated Tuesday during Well-Being and Belonging Day.

The centerpiece of the program was the presentation of the annual Ida Gray Awards to a student, staff member and faculty member for their significant contributions to the school’s inclusive environment for work, education, research, patient care and the many other aspects of the school mission.

This year’s honorees are:

• Student: Brhan Eskinder, a fourth-year student who will graduate in May and then continue at the dental school in the graduate pediatric specialty program. She was cited for innovative initiatives, meaningful dialogue and personal engagement that encourage people at the school to express their identities, share their stories and be met with understanding rather than judgment. “Her ability to recognize unspoken needs and respond with compassion has made her a trusted and reassuring presence,” a nominator said. Added another: “She does not simply speak about diversity and belonging; she lives it. Her actions align with her words, and her integrity is evident in the way she treats others. She is approachable, genuine and consistently willing to offer help. This authenticity strengthens her influence and makes her a trusted figure within both academic and social communities.”
• Staff: Bliss Ledford, an administrative assistant in Faculty Affairs. She was acknowledged for her ability to help create “a culture where people feel seen, supported and valued – whether they are students, residents, staff or faculty.” A nominator said her thoughtful and genuine approach “builds connections across groups, makes others feel comfortable asking questions, and helps individuals feel that they truly belong in our environment.” She was also cited for creating “a ‘home away from home,’ particularly for students and residents who have come from far away or from different countries and are adjusting to a new system and culture. She helps ease that transition through warmth, kindness and steady support, and she does it consistently without expecting recognition.”
• Faculty: Dr. Sunčica Travan, Assistant Dean for Students and an associate professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. A nominator said she is approachable in a way that immediately reduces barriers. “Students feel comfortable reaching out to her because she listens with care, responds without judgment, and treats every concern as worthy of respect and attention. In doing so, she powerfully embodies a commitment to diversity and belonging by ensuring that students from different backgrounds, identities and life experiences feel seen and included within the broader school community.” She also was applauded for actively seeking student input and elevating student voices. “Her ability to engage students with empathy while also driving meaningful change reflects her talent for building trust and improving the overall climate for learning and well-being,” a nominator said.

Students, faculty and staff nominate individuals for the award and recipients are selected by the school’s Multicultural Affairs Well-Being and Belonging Committee. The award, established in 1997, honors the legacy of Dr. Ida Gray, who became the first Black female dentist in the country when she graduated from the School of Dentistry in 1890, only 15 years after the founding of the school in 1875. It was a time in the nation’s history when women and racial minorities were not accepted into higher education and professional schools. Gray went on to become the first Black woman to practice in Chicago.

In his welcoming remarks on behalf of Dean Jacques Nör, Dr. Todd V. Ester, Associate Dean for Well-being and People, emphasized the remarkable story of Gray as a defining moment in the early days of the U-M School of Dentistry, which celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding last year. Ester said the acceptance of Gray so early in school history, long before the Civil Rights era and the current national dialogue on race, speaks to what the leaders, faculty, staff and students felt was important, a commitment that continues today. “If they could do that for Dr. Gray, that means that everyone has a chance here in our space and are able to navigate our space in a beautiful way,” Ester said. “So celebrate Dr. Gray. Calling out her name is really powerful for us, because it says we are still doing the same work that was important more than 150 years ago, creating opportunities for all.”

Evan Lockhart, the dental school’s Wellness and Belonging Officer, reminded the audience of students, staff and faculty that the school has numerous resources focused on the well-being of everyone in the school community. That includes informal and more structured tools focused on mental health, meditation and mindfulness for those who face anxiety and stress in the educational environment. “It’s really, really important, especially since it is winter, to take some time with yourself and with your thoughts to breathe and ground yourself,” he said.

Lockhart also emphasized the idea of belonging, which the school facilitates through various means, including the work of the Multicultural Affairs Well-Being and Belonging Committee. Audience members were asked to contribute to a word cloud exercise by selecting one word in answer to the question: What does ‘belonging’ mean to you?  Top answers from the audience included: Community. Inclusion. Comfort. Respect. Well-being. Togetherness. Safe space. Welcoming. Authenticity.

“A sense of belonging is integral to your well-being, because when you feel like you belong in a space, that’s when you can be your best self,” Lockhart said. “And what we know here at the University of Michigan is that a sense of belonging is integral to a healthy workplace and a healthy learning environment.”

The program closed with an acknowledgment of the members of the MAC-WB and its co-leads – faculty member Dr. Larry Salzmann and staff member Gail Oljace. “The work of our committee helps provide a community where everyone can feel a sense of belonging and reach their highest professional goals,” Ester said.

Source: https://dent.umich.edu/