March 1, 2025 - The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) elected its 2025-26 national president, vice presidents and speaker of the house at Annual Session on March 1 in Kansas City, Missouri. The national leaders were chosen by the House of Delegates, which represents 73 dental schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Payal Patel, Arizona ‘26, will serve as ASDA's president. The president chairs the board of trustees, which oversees the development and implementation of the association's strategic plan and approves the annual budget. As chair of the executive committee, she is also responsible for managing association business between meetings of the board. The two vice presidents and the speaker serve alongside her as members of the board and the executive committee.

Patel most recently served as ASDA's District 10 trustee. Through this role, she sat on the ASDA Board of Trustees, Council on Membership, and the ADA Committee on Dental Education and Licensure.

"Throughout my leadership journey, I have embraced accountability, collaboration, and innovation. My experiences have allowed me to make a meaningful impact while empowering those around me. Whether addressing member engagement, advocating for DEI, or facilitating cross-district collaboration, I have prioritized creating spaces for others to lead and succeed."

Tyler Jenness, Iowa ‘26, was elected as one of ASDA's vice presidents.

Jenness served as Iowa’s chapter president and District 8 trustee.

“I’m so thankful for this organization and the opportunity to serve as vice president. I’m looking forward to working with this team to advance ASDA’s mission and engage with more members across the country.”

Darius Warner, Indiana ‘26, was also elected as ASDA's vice president.

Warner recently served as ASDA’s District 7 trustee.

"Serving as the ASDA District 7 trustee greatly enhanced my ability to communicate, collaborate, and lead a team effectively. As trustee, I realized that carrying out the goals of a national organization and leading a large team with significant responsibilities requires a shift from individual task completion to thoughtful delegation and collaboration."

Bree Zhang, Columbia ‘26, was elected as ASDA's speaker of the house. The speaker presides over all House of Delegates meetings, instructs delegates on rules and procedures, and informs delegates and members about the resolution process. Zhang served as the Chair of ASDA’s National Council on Advocacy.

"I see Speaker as a 'connector.' My appointments on the ADA National Fluoridation Advisory Council, ADA Give Vets a Smile Council, and the NYSDA Substance Use and Well-being Committee allow me to build relations and serve as a liaison to allied government organizations on federal and state levels."

Board of Trustees

The 2025-26 Board of Trustees were also elected at Annual Session, including the first-ever District 12 and 13 trustees. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the administration and management of the association. Each trustee represents one of 13 ASDA districts.

District 1
Colby Dean, Tufts ‘26

District 2
Joshua Velazquez, Touro ‘26

District 3
Minhee Jeon, Pennsylvania ‘26

District 4
Raven King, Virginia ‘27

District 5
Marie Julien, Nova Southeastern ‘26

District 6
Miguel Ortiz Gonzalez, Meharry ‘26

District 7
Matthew Fazio, Ohio State ‘26

District 8
Emily Bone, Southern Illinois ‘27

District 9
Alexon Tiem, KCU-Joplin ‘27

District 10
Megan Kalpin, Texas-San Antonio ‘26

District 11
Summer Furrer, Utah ‘26

District 12
Ansen Zhi-Han Lai, San Francisco ‘26

District 13
Honesty Boone, Los Angeles ‘27