FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Thomas University and American Dental Hygienists’ Association Announce Education Partnership and Tuition Benefit for ADHA Members
MIAMI, Mar. 3, 2026—St. Thomas University (STU) and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) have announced a new education partnership designed to expand undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral pathways for dental hygienists across the United States.
As part of the agreement, STU will offer ADHA members a preferred partner tuition rate for eligible undergraduate and graduate programs. The benefit is intended to expand access to advanced education and leadership preparation within the profession.
Dental hygienists have traditionally earned an associate degree, preparing them to sit for licensing examinations required to practice in all 50 states. While this educational pathway has long supported entry into clinical practice, as workforce demands and academic faculty shortages persist, expanded degree options are increasingly important to support teaching, research, and leadership development within the profession.
ADHA represents more than 220,000 dental hygiene professionals nationwide and serves as the leading voice for the profession.
Through this new partnership, ADHA and STU are addressing gaps in advanced education by working to develop accredited academic pathways that support leadership development, teaching preparation, and research in dental hygiene.
As part of this collaboration, STU and ADHA are exploring what would be the first PhD in Dental Hygiene in the United States, with a focus on leadership, education, and research. The proposed doctoral program would prepare dental hygienists for roles in higher education, academic administration, research, policy, and organizational leadership—areas of growing importance for the future of the profession.
This partnership reflects ADHA’s strategic efforts to expand educational access for its members while helping shape the long-term academic future of the profession.
“Expanding access to advanced education is critical to the future of dental hygiene,” said Dr. JoAnn Gurenlian, ADHA Director of Education, Research and Advocacy. “This partnership provides our members with affordable degree options while supporting our profession’s movement toward doctoral education.”
“St. Thomas University’s partnership with ADHA reflects a shared commitment to elevating the profession of dental hygiene through education, innovation, and leadership development,” said STU Provost Michelle Johnson-Barnes. “By working together, we are creating pathways that empower dental hygienists to shape the future of education, research, and patient care.”
Further details regarding program eligibility, delivery format, timelines, and accreditation pathways will be shared as the collaboration progresses.
###
About St. Thomas University
St. Thomas University (STU) is one of the South’s premier Catholic universities. It is a private, nonprofit institution committed to fostering students’ academic and professional success and developing them to become ethical leaders in the global community. Rich with cultural and international diversity, STU is the only Archdiocesan university in Florida, and one of just 11 nationwide. STU offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degree programs online and on the university’s beautiful Miami Gardens campus via its College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences & Technology, Gus Machado College of Business, Biscayne College for Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the largest College of Law in Florida for traditional J.D. programs.
About the American Dental Hygienists’ Association
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) is the only organization representing the professional interests of the more than 220,000 dental hygienists in the United States. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. The Journal of Dental Hygiene (JDH), published bi-monthly, is ADHA’s scientific journal and flagship publication. To learn more about the ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit www.adha.org.
ADHA Media Contacts
Belkis Mejia Perdomo
St. Thomas University
305‑628‑6601
[email protected]
Bronwyn Barrera, MBA
ADHA
312-440-8911
[email protected]