New Dean – College of Dental Medicine

Dear Colleagues, Friends, Students, Staff, Faculty, and Trustees.

I would like to thank Dr. Crone, Interim Provost, for sharing with the WesternU community the exciting news that Elizabeth Andrews, DDS, has been selected as the new Dean of the College of Dental Medicine (CDM), effective Aug. 15, 2022. I laude Dr. Crone for her decision after an exhaustive comprehensive national search process.

I thank and congratulate Dr. Andrews for accepting this coveted position as WesternU’s next Dean of CDM, and I express my genuine enthusiasm for the honor to work with such a distinguished academician. I believe Dr. Andrew to possess the “right fit-in index” for the job: Dr. Andrews is the right choice, at the right time, with the right skill set, and the right academic credentials and experience, to lead the College into WesternU’s new era of growth, expansion, and transformation to a mature University.

A very heartfelt “thank you” and congratulations to College of Graduate Nursing Dean, Mary Lopez, Chair of the Search Committee, and to the esteemed members of the Search Committee for their exemplary leadership, integrity, thoroughness, and tenacity in screening, interviewing, and identifying the best possible candidates, both external and internal. I wish to express my appreciation for the careful diligence and unwavering adherence to University policy throughout a diligent and lengthy external national search in a challenging national climate. It is a testament and compliment to the University that the best candidate proved to be an internal candidate.

With such a superb choice, it is with emotion that we recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our retiring Dean. It is with conviction that we express our enormous respect, appreciation, and offer a great debt of gratitude to our outgoing Dean, Steven Friedrichsen, and his wife, Sue, for an indefatigable dedication and loyalty to the College of Dental Medicine. Over many years, Dr. Friedrichsen committed countless hours to navigate the challenging waters to achieve full accreditation and to ensure the emergence of a mature and pre-eminent College for future generations of student leaders to follow. He will forever be archived in the annals of WesternU’s elite and distinguished academic leaders!

Please permit me, on behalf of all of us at WesternU, to enthusiastically offer congratulations and a special welcome to our new CDM Dean, Elizabeth Andrews, DDS!

My very kindest regards,
Robin