About Dr. Holloway

Dr. Jeanette Sabir-Holloway is Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health and Community Service at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM). She served as director of admissions, recruitment, and outreach for TUSDM for five years prior to her position as assistant dean for diversity and inclusion.

In her role at Tufts, Dean Holloway works closely with university DEIJ leaders in planning and implementing DEIJ faculty and staff programming and helps lead successful recruitment efforts for Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She also serves as course director for Diversity and Inclusion Courses for D1, D2, D3, IS1, and PG1 classes. Among most recent honors, Dr. Holloway was recipient of the Lucy Hobbs mentor award in 2018, and in 2022, awarded Chair of ADEA Board of Director’s Citation
for Increasing Diversity in Dentistry.

As founding director of Increasing Diversity in Dentistry (IDID), she mentors, nurtures, and advises many students who are historically underrepresented and interested in the profession of dentistry. One of her primary goals of creating Increasing Diversity in Dentistry (IDID) Pathway Program, was to assist unevenly prepared students in becoming better prepared dental school applicants which will increase the number of under-represented students enrolled in dental schools. Since 2011, IDID activities have supported the scholars in becoming successful candidates for dental school admission, and supported IDID.2 dental students advance their careers. Additionally, as program participants, IDID Doctors commit to practice dentistry in an underserved area for a two-year minimum upon completion of dental school.

As a practicing dentist in Indianapolis, Indiana for over 30 years, Dr. Holloway served in many community organizations. Both, she, and her husband, Dr. Stephen Towns, were educated in Historically Black Colleges and believe very strongly in the impact that HBCU’s have on the retention and matriculation of African American students and propelling these students into community leadership roles. These principles have
guided her IDID mentorship.

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