ATSU announces Kneka Smith, EdD, MPH, ’19, as Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health dean
Posted: February 25, 2026
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) is pleased to announce alumna Kneka P. Smith, EdD, MPH, ’19, as the next dean of the University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH), effective June 22, 2026.
Selected following a national search, Dr. Smith returns to ATSU from MaineHealth in Portland, Maine, where she has been vice president for academic affairs since 2021. An accomplished leader and the former dental director for the State of Arizona, Dr. Smith’s extensive background includes senior academic roles at ATSU’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, ATSU-MOSDOH, and the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. Her deep roots with ATSU also include serving as associate dean for education and as a member of the inaugural leadership team at ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health.
“I am honored to be named as the next dean of ATSU’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health and to be returning to the University,” Dr. Smith said. “I look forward to leading an incredible team of educators and team members as we continue to welcome high-performing students committed to excellence and work to improve the health of our communities. I am committed to collaborating with University and community leaders, and connecting with alumni and partners.”
As dean and chief academic officer, Dr. Smith will lead ATSU-MOSDOH’s academic programs and clinical enterprise, overseeing the School’s operations on both the Kirksville, Missouri, campus and at the St. Louis Dental Center, where oral healthcare services are provided through a partnership with Affinia Healthcare.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Smith back to ATSU,” said ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84. “Her recognized leadership in curricular design, assessment, accreditation, and health professions education aligns strongly with ATSU’s mission and MOSDOH’s continued commitment to educational excellence and community service.”
“With more than 30 years of combined experience in dental education, public health, and academic healthcare leadership, Dr. Smith brings expertise in strategic visioning, analytic skills, and leadership,” said ATSU Missouri Campus President Gaylah Sublette, MBA. “She is dedicated to empowering students, faculty, and staff to achieve their full potential while advancing oral health and dental education.”
Dr. Smith earned her doctor of education in health professions education from ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies in 2019, and her master of public health in health policy and administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006. She currently holds a faculty appointment in public health and community medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Her funded scholarship has been supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Delta Dental foundations, private philanthropy, and state agencies with focuses on educational innovation, access to care for rural and underserved populations, health workforce development, and population health.