Appointments, Faculty and Staff

May, Roberts Begin Appointments as Weintraub, Beck Step Down

Drs. Ken May and Mike Roberts begin their new administrative positions at the UNC School of Dentistry effective today, July 1, 2016. These positions were vacated by former school Dean Jane Weintraub and former Executive Associate Dean Jim Beck.

May, a longtime member of the faculty and 1973 graduate of the school’s dental program assumes the role of interim dean for the school. The position came available when Weintraub announced her plans to step down at the end of December 2015 effective at the conclusion of her five-year appointment. May was announced as the school’s interim dean in mid-May, following commencement activities.

“Jane Weintraub led the school during some incredibly tough times,” said May. “The UNC School of Dentistry community as a whole is thankful for her efforts and is glad that she plans to remain as a full-time faculty member at the School of Dentistry.”

May’s role as interim dean will remain effective until a new permanent dean is appointed. A nationwide search is currently underway. In the interim, May will focus on critical near-term initiatives, like the school’s upcoming accreditation site visit, strategic planning and increasing the school’s research portfolio. He will also represent the school at local meetings and will spend some time interfacing with donors.

Weintraub plans to take a semester-long research leave before rejoining the Department of Dental Ecology faculty, where she’ll focus on mentoring and educating students, and her research. She will also maintain her joint appointment at the Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Roberts joins the Dean’s Office as the school’s new executive associate dean, which is the result of Beck stepping down in tandem with Weintraub. May announced Roberts as the incoming executive associate dean to the school community earlier this week.

“Mike Roberts has been a pillar of our faculty since 1989, and I know he’ll bring the same commitment and passion to this appointment that he’s brought to his position in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry,” said May.

As executive associate dean, Roberts will assist May in a variety of day-to-day school administration functions such as chairing the school’s administrative board; coordinating reviews of school administrators; working with financial affairs on budget documents; providing oversight and guidance of support services operations, CE, HR and OCIS; and representing May when necessary.

Beck rejoins the faculty as a professor in the Department of Dental Ecology and will refocus his efforts on dental research.

“We’re grateful for Jim Beck’s continued commitment to our school, as demonstrated by his service as associate dean for research and most recently executive associate dean,” said May.

Additional updates about the school’s search for a new dean will be forthcoming as appropriate.