Students at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry have a strong history of providing leadership for national student associations. In the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association in Dentistry, Doctor of Dental Surgery students from WVU have served on the national board every year since beginning a chapter on campus.
Continuing that legacy, Hunter Schaefer, a first-year DDS student from Morgantown, has been selected as the Regent 4 representative for the 2025-26 academic year. Schaefer will fulfill the role that is currently being held for the 2024-25 academic year by classmate Ariel Holliday, a fourth-year student from Lewisburg who is graduating in May.
“I attended my first SPEA Annual Session in 2024 and instantly felt encouraged and motivated as a dental student,” Holliday said of her experience with the organization. “At annual, the knowledge I gained has equipped me for clinic as well as my career looking forward, and I knew I wanted to serve dental students across the U.S. and Canada through the National Board.”
The annual session provided a similar sense of inspiration for Schaefer.
“After attending the national conference – being there and getting to know fellow dental students – I knew I wanted to make it possible for other students to experience it in the future,” he said. “Putting yourself out there and creating new experiences with people you know and don’t know can open so many doors, and it’s something SPEA has done for me.”
The National SPEA Board, under the guidance of three directors, consists of a team of 13 dental students from across the country who help guide, mentor, and develop all SPEA chapters as well as organize regional and national events. National Board members are selected from applicants and voted on at the SPEA Annual Session in the fall.
Serving as Regent 4, Schaefer and Holliday represent the Great Lakes Regency which includes dental schools in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Regents are elected for a one-year term and serve as the primary contact between chapters and SPEA executives, act as a resource for SPEA chapters, and foster the relationship between the SPEA and the American College of Dentists.
“My favorite part of serving on the board is the relationships I have been able to foster and the encouragement I have been able to receive through each person I engage with,” Holliday said. “I work to connect chapters to resources, but I feel as though I learn so much from each chapter, allowing me to use that knowledge to benefit so many SPEA chapters.”
During his time on the board, Schaefer is also planning to use his platform to build relationships and advocate for the promotion of ethical behavior and professional development to advance the field of dentistry.
“I’m most looking forward to embracing new experiences and connecting with other dental students from across the region. I want to be able to show them the importance of SPEA, and it will give me the opportunity elevate my communication and professionalism skills. I’m excited to be there for others as their connection to the National Board and to make sure they share the value of SPEA with their fellow dental students, ultimately growing involvement and getting students to nationals in 2026.”
About the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association in Dentistry
The Student Professionalism and Ethics Association in Dentistry is a national, student-driven association that was established to promote and support students’ lifelong commitment to ethical behavior in order to benefit the patients they serve and to further the dental profession. The Association aims to act as a support system for students in strengthening their personal and professional ethics values and to collaborate with leadership of the dental profession to effectively advocate for its members.
Photo at top: Third-year DDS student Hunter Schaefer (back row, third from left) joins fellow SPEA National Board members for a group photo at the Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
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jw/12/16/25
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WVU School of Dentistry | WVU Dental