NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dr. Cherae M. Farmer, dean of the School of Dentistry at Meharry Medical College, has become the first African American woman to chair the Board of Directors of the American Dental Education Association in the organization’s 103-year history.
Farmer also was recently named interim executive vice president and provost at Meharry Medical College. She will serve in the position while continuing her role as dean of the School of Dentistry.
Farmer began her term as chair of the American Dental Education Association in March 2026. The organization represents more than 65,000 oral health professionals, 87 dental schools and more than 800 allied and advanced dental education programs across the United States and Canada.
Farmer has served as dean of Meharry’s School of Dentistry for 10 years and has dedicated more than three decades to dental education. During her tenure, the school has expanded its national profile, opened the Shelbyville dental clinic to increase access to care in rural Tennessee and strengthened its commitment to health equity.
“Dr. Farmer’s election to chair the American Dental Association is a proud and historic moment,” said Dr. James E. K. Hildreth Sr., president and chief executive officer of Meharry Medical College. “Her leadership reflects the excellence and service that’s defined Meharry for 150 years. As the first African American woman to hold this role, she is opening doors for future generations of women in the dental profession while elevating the national conversation about equity, innovation and access in oral health education.”
Farmer’s national leadership comes as women represent the majority of students entering dental schools nationwide, marking a significant shift in the profession’s future workforce.
Meharry’s School of Dentistry was founded in 1886 as the first dental school in the United States dedicated to educating African Americans. Approximately 27 percent of practicing African American dentists in the United States are Meharry graduates, with nearly 70 percent serving in underserved or low-income communities.
