School of Dentistry leadership transition

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to share an important leadership update for the School of Dentistry.

After five years of distinguished service as Dean of the School of Dentistry, one year as interim dean and service as associate dean for academic affairs, Dean Keith Mays has announced his decision to retire effective June 30, 2026. 

Dean Mays has served the University, the School of Dentistry, and the broader healthcare community with integrity, vision and deep commitment to public service. Throughout his tenure, he strengthened the School’s national reputation in oral health sciences, clinical care, education and research, while advancing its role as a leader in community-centered care.

Under his leadership, the School experienced meaningful growth in impact and innovation, including elevating the School’s Blue Ridge Institute rankings from 24 in 2022 to 13 in 2024. Guided by a commitment to academic excellence and improving health outcomes, Dean Mays advanced initiatives that expanded access to care, strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration and prepared graduates to succeed in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. He also supported enhancements in experiential learning, student support and educational innovation that enriched the student experience and improved outcomes.

Dean Mays worked closely with faculty, healthcare systems, philanthropic partners, alumni and community organizations to elevate the School’s research enterprise and public impact. Among the many highlights during his tenure are:

• The Special Healthcare Needs Clinic, which has developed into a growing center for specialized care and workforce development, secured state support to enhance accessibility and technology while preparing students to care for medically complex, older adult and special needs patients.
• Leadership in rural care delivery through partnerships with community clinics across Greater Minnesota, including CentraCare in Willmar and Minnesota North College in Hibbing, provides students with transformative experiences that often inspire rural practice.
• A strengthened research portfolio marked by interdisciplinary discovery, including nationally recognized work in virology and cancer research that identified new therapeutic targets for a human virus linked to leukemia and lymphoma, and an AI-driven teledentistry initiative that integrates international clinical data to improve diagnostic accuracy and strengthen global collaboration.
• A thriving culture of service and engagement in which students and faculty expanded community initiatives such as the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic dental program and the annual Give Kids a Smile Day, increasing access to care while enriching student learning.

Throughout his 11 years at the University, Dean Mays remained deeply committed to the School’s mission and responsibility as Minnesota’s only dental school, which trains more than 70% of the state’s dentists and provides the highest-quality care to over 90,000 patients annually. He has been a steadfast advocate for the resources and partnerships the School needs to serve Minnesota’s evolving oral health and whole health needs. While the School’s recent request for state funding was not approved by the legislature this year, modernizing the School’s aging clinical facilities remains a critical institutional priority, and the Dean’s leadership laid important groundwork for continued progress.

As we begin this leadership transition, we are committed to a collaborative process to identify the School’s next dean and build upon the School’s strong momentum. I expect to appoint an interim dean in the coming weeks and launch a national search this summer. Additional information will be shared as the process advances, keeping continuity and stability for the School’s students, faculty, staff, patients and partners at the forefront. 

Please join me in thanking Dean Mays for his outstanding service, leadership, mentorship and lasting impact on the School of Dentistry and the communities it serves.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Ritter
Executive Vice President and Provost