About the Role

Excelon Associates is seeking an accomplished and student-centered Program Director for a Dental Hygiene Program at a well-established academic institution committed to excellence in allied health education. The Program Director serves as the academic and administrative leader responsible for ensuring program quality, student success, and accreditation compliance while fostering a culture of professionalism and clinical excellence.

This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of dental hygiene education by leading faculty, refining curriculum, strengthening community and clinical partnerships, and ensuring alignment with CODA standards and evolving oral health workforce demands. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in dental hygiene education, demonstrated experience with CODA accreditation processes, and a genuine passion for developing the next generation of oral health professionals through innovative, evidence-based instruction.

The Program Director is both the academic visionary and the operational backbone of the program. They set the tone for faculty culture, drive student outcomes, manage regulatory compliance, and represent the program to institutional leadership, accreditation site visitors, and the broader oral health community. This is a high-visibility, high-accountability role for someone who takes quality seriously at every level.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of program operations including curriculum design and management, course scheduling, faculty supervision, clinical site coordination, and resource allocation to ensure high-quality instruction and continuous program improvement.
• Maintain full compliance with Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards and applicable state board regulations; lead self-studies, prepare annual reports, and coordinate accreditation site visits with precision and institutional credibility.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and mentor full-time and adjunct faculty to ensure consistency in instructional delivery, clinical supervision standards, student evaluation practices, and adherence to evidence-based best practices.
• Foster a supportive, inclusive, and professionally rigorous learning environment focused on academic achievement, clinical competence, licensure preparation, and professional development for all students.
• Build and maintain partnerships with dental practices, clinics, community health organizations, and externship sites to expand clinical placement capacity, enhance graduate employment outcomes, and strengthen workforce relevance.
• Collaborate with institutional leadership on program strategic planning, enrollment management, budget development, technology integration, and long-term growth initiatives aligned with oral healthcare workforce trends.
• Oversee program assessment processes, student learning outcome reporting, and CODA-required data collection to support continuous quality improvement and accreditation cycle compliance.
• Represent the Dental Hygiene program at institutional governance meetings, professional association events, and regional and national dental education forums.
• Develop and implement clinical education protocols, infection control training, simulation lab standards, and patient safety frameworks consistent with current ADHA and CODA guidelines.
• Advise and support students through academic progression challenges, clinical competency concerns, licensure preparation, and professional career development throughout the program lifecycle.

Required Qualifications

What Sets the Best Candidates Apart

Why This Role Matters

Dental hygiene education plays a pivotal role in improving community health outcomes and advancing access to preventive oral care. Dental hygienists are among the most frequently seen oral health providers in the United States, and the quality of their clinical training directly affects the health of the patients they will serve for decades. The Program Director is the person most responsible for ensuring that training meets the highest possible standard.

As the field evolves with new technology, expanded scope of practice legislation, and growing recognition of the oral-systemic health connection, dental hygiene programs require leaders who can keep curriculum relevant, maintain clinical partnerships strong, and prepare graduates who are not just licensed but genuinely practice-ready. That requires a director who is both a skilled educator and an engaged professional, connected to the field and committed to its advancement.

CODA accreditation is not a box to check — it is the ongoing proof that a program is doing what it says it does. A strong Program Director treats accreditation compliance as a continuous quality improvement process rather than a periodic reporting obligation. Institutions that invest in the right program leadership produce graduates with better outcomes, stronger employer reputations, and higher licensure pass rates.

Retained Search by Excelon Associates

Excelon Associates is a retained executive search firm headquartered in Asheville, NC, with additional offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL. Our healthcare education practice places program directors, department chairs, and academic leaders across allied health disciplines including dental hygiene, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and respiratory therapy at accredited institutions nationwide.

We work with colleges and universities to identify experienced dental hygiene educators who can lead programs with the combination of clinical credibility, accreditation expertise, and student-centered leadership that the role demands. If your institution is seeking a Program Director for Dental Hygiene or a related allied health academic leadership role, reach out to start a confidential conversation.