Dean’s lunch brings together friends and alumni

About 50 former students and friends of Texas A&M School of Dentistry joined Dr. Lily T. García at a luncheon Dec. 9 to connect with the new dean.

It was the first of several networking events planned for the new year.  García herself is an alumna of the school and is excited to return in a leadership role.

“What a great privilege to be back,” she told the group. “It’s very special to me. This is one of the most high-caliber flagship universities, so to be at this level, at this campus, is phenomenal.”

In her post-lunch remarks, García commended the staff and faculty of the school. Everyone, from the facilities department to faculty, plays a key role in elevating Texas A&M School of Dentistry, she said. She also thanked the luncheon guests for their commitment to the school.

“It’s people in this room that help us amplify our message and our impact on people’s well-being,” García said.

She also spoke briefly to the alumni about the future of the school and said there are many exciting things on the horizon. She and Texas A&M University President M. Katherine Banks share a goal of making sure the dental school receives the full benefit of being part of the Texas A&M System.

“Our students are some of the brightest in the nation, our research is fantastic, our specialists are great and we have a truly diverse campus,” she said. “When I think of our history, this school is 117 years old. Our flagship is a top tier, R1 Carnegie classification university. We are perfectly poised to soar.”