Six CDM Students Selected for National Leadership Roles with ASDA

Six students from the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine have been elected or appointed to national leadership positions with the American Student Dental Association(ASDA) for the 2026–27 term, an extraordinary showing that reflects both individual dedication of CDM’s students to the profession and the strength of Columbia’s student leadership community.

“I am delighted that CDM students have been recognized for their leadership with roles in the national organization. When these six students Interact with dental students from across the country, our entire community benefits,” said Dennis A. Mitchell, dean of CDM.

ASDA Executive Director Nancy R. Honeycutt said that the students were selected from a highly competitive national pool to serve in key roles shaping the organization’s strategic direction, advocacy efforts, communications, membership initiatives, and professional programming.

Kayla Thomsen ’27 was elected District 2 Trustee at ASDA’s Annual Session. In this role, she will serve on the Board of Trustees, helping guide the association’s strategic priorities and representing dental students across the district.

“My secret weapons for acclimating to the new challenges of dental school were the moments of community I found with CDM and ASDA,” Thomsen said. “Serving in this role is my way of expressing gratitude to both communities that have served me these last few years.”

As trustee, Thomsen hopes to bring New York’s five dental schools together in meaningful ways to foster collaboration and strengthen engagement in organized dentistry. After graduation, she plans to pursue an orthodontic residency and become active in Columbia’s alumni community.

Five additional students were appointed to national positions during the January meeting of ASDA’s Board of Trustees:

• David McNeill ’28 was appointed Council on Advocacy Legislative Coordinator for Districts 1–3.
• Sharmeen Hamid ’27 was appointed Council on Membership AS/IDP Associate.
• Sam Jeon ’28 was appointed Council on Communications Video Production Manager.
• Yashica Kagithapu ’27 was appointed Council on Professional Issues Associate.
• Esther Yu ’27 was appointed Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief.

McNeill, who has been involved in legislative advocacy since his first year of dental school, said his passion for organized dentistry grew after attending New York Advocacy Day as a D1 student.

“My goal has always been to get everyone excited about organized dentistry and show them how important it is to advocate for our profession if we want things our way,” McNeill said. Following graduation, he will serve four years in the Navy through the Health Professions Scholarship Program and hopes to pursue an endodontics residency in the future.

Kagithapu was drawn to her role on the Council on Professional Issues because it bridges two of her long-standing interests: community outreach and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“I wanted to stay involved in ASDA and promote initiatives that involve equitable care and give back to the community,” she said. Her goals include expanding outreach opportunities and developing practical DEI resources for students to use in their clinical training. She plans to pursue orthodontic residency after graduation.

Yu, who previously served as a contributing editor, described stepping into the Editor-in-Chief role as a natural progression.

“I really loved being part of the creative process and working with the team,” Yu said. “I want the publication to feel like something people actually want to read and something our team feels excited about putting together.” After graduation, she hopes to pursue a pediatric dentistry residency.

Jeon says that he hopes to combine his passions for dentistry and storytelling in ways that are both representative of the dental school experience and relatable to students pursuing similar goals.

“I hope to create content that represents and tells the stories of dental students across the nation and their different paths in life, and share the common challenges dental students face,” Jeon said.

Hamid says that she hopes to represent the specific needs and unique challenges that advanced standing students face. “Small gaps in communication or awareness can snowball into bigger issues down the line,” she said. “I thought, ‘why not try to bridge that?’”

Together, these six appointments underscore the College’s deep commitment to leadership development, advocacy, and service. By taking on national roles within ASDA, these students will not only represent Columbia on a broader stage but also help shape the future of organized dentistry for students across the country.