Penn Dental Medicine Names New Leadership to Admissions Posts
Philadelphia – Following a national search, Penn Dental Medicine has named new leadership within its Office of Admissions, recruiting Mark Mitchell as Assistant Dean of Admissions and Brian Hahn as Director of Admissions, effective November 1 and October 1, respectively. Both bring extensive experience in dental school admissions to their new posts.
“We are eager to welcome both Mark and Brian to our Penn Dental Medicine community,” says Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean, Dr. Mark S. Wolff. “I believe they will be a strong team and great resources for both our prospective and current students.”
With 29 years of experience in the field, Mitchell comes to Penn Dental Medicine from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Dentistry, where since 2003, he has served as an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean for Admissions and Students Affairs. As Associate Dean, he has been responsible for the areas of recruitment, retention, admissions, student life, registration and enrollment, and diversity and inclusion efforts.
Prior to his time at OHSU, Mitchell served as Director of Recruitment and Evaluation within the University of Southern California (USC) School of Dentistry Office of Admissions and Student Affairs (1994 to 2003). Mitchell started his career in this office as an admissions representative (1992-1993), moving into that role after having been a work-study student there while earning his undergraduate degree in education at USC (1991). He also holds a M.A. in Higher Education Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University (1994).
At OHSU, he has been active on numerous committees in both the School of Dentistry and the University, including the Curriculum Committee, Student Performance Committee, Advanced Education Committee, OHSU Academic and Student Affairs Council, OHSU Student Health Advisory Committee, and OHSU Academic Technology Steering Committee. He was the recipient of the OHSU Faculty Senate Award for Distinguished Service and OHSU’s first Diversity and Inclusion Award for outstanding staff member. Nationally, he served two terms on the ADEA AADSAS Task Force, one as Chair, on the ADEA AADSAS WebAdmit Task Force, and on the ADEA AADSAS Advisory Group.
Brian Hahn is coming to Penn Dental Medicine from Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University where he has served as Director of Admissions since 2003. During his time with Temple, Hahn has managed admissions to Kornberg’s four-year DMD program, its advanced standing DMD program for students with international dental degrees, and its post-baccalaureate program. He also served as Faculty Advisor for Temple’s Undergraduate Pre-Dental Society and Undergraduate Student National Dental Association (USNDA). Prior to his post at Temple, Hahn worked as a certified Expanded Functions Dental Assistant from 1997 to 2003. He holds a B.A. in Organizational Dynamics from Temple University.
Mitchell and Hahn succeed Dr. Olivia Sheridan and Corky Cacas, respectively. Dr. Sheridan, Professor of Clinical Restorative Dentistry, who served as Assistant and then Associate Dean of Admissions at Penn Dental Medicine since 2007, will continue teaching at Penn Dental Medicine. Cacas, who retired June 30 after 26 years as Director of Admissions, is continuing to support the School’s Office of Admissions in a part-time role.