IU Indianapolis honored Dr. Jeffrey and Barbara Dean with the Spirit of Philanthropy award on April 9, 2024.
The Deans have made a lifetime commitment to support IU School of Dentistry and IU Indianapolis. The Spirit of Philanthropy award recognizes the sincere dedication of individuals and organizations to support the IU Indianapolis campus. Honorees give generously and provide volunteer leadership to advance opportunities for students, faculty, and staff at IU Indianapolis.
The Deans met while working at the Riley Hospital for Children in the Pediatric Dentistry residency program. Mrs. Dean received degrees in dental hygiene (AS‘77) and education (BS’81) from Indiana University. Her father, Dr. Ralph McDonald, was dean of IU School of Dentistry from 1968 to 1984. Dr. Dean received his DDS degree from IUSD in 1983, along with a master's degree in pediatric dentistry in 1985 and a certificate in orthodontics in 1995.
Dr. Dean has served in various academic leadership roles at IUSD and IU Indianapolis. He is the Ralph McDonald Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and served as IUSD executive associate dean. In the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, he was hospital residency program director and program chair. He also is faculty in the Department of Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics. On the campus level, Dr. Dean was chief of staff and senior advisor to IUPUI Chancellor Bantz.
The Deans have supported many aspects of the campus and have encouraged others to give by being a part of key campus and dental school initiatives, including supporting several scholarships, the Baldwin and McDonald professorships, IUSD construction projects, and Jaguar Athletics. Their contributions have impacted generations of dental students across the past, present, and future of IU School of Dentistry.