August 1, 2022 wasn’t your average Monday at the UF College of Dentistry. The fresh start of a new month brought a new class advisor for the DMD Class of 2025, which opted to ‘propose’ to Gator Dentist alumna Stephanni Terza, D.M.D., bringing her on board as a mentor for the class through their final three years of dental school. As is typically customary, Terza will have the honor of hooding the graduates at their commencement ceremony in 2025, culminating their successful dental education.
The class surprised Terza by sneakily inviting her husband and children to the day’s events. Following the surprise proposal, class president Aatish Patel, vice president Daria Muklewicz, treasurer Graham Jones and secretary Ana Goldstein crowned the ‘queen’ with a flower crown, a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a gift box with thoughtful goodies for Terza, including a letter from every member of the class.
Terza graduated from UFCD in 2013 after completing both her undergrad and dental degrees as a Gator. Following her dental school graduation, she completed a general practice residency in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Mountain Area Health Education Center. She then returned to Gainesville to work in private practice, while serving as an adjunct faculty member at the college.
On August 21, 2020, Terza joined the faculty full-time as a clinical assistant professor in the Operative Division of Restorative Dental Sciences, where her focus is teaching pre-doctoral dental students in didactic and clinical settings.
“My heart for teaching at the university dovetails with my passion in providing quality and compassionate care as a dentist, especially to those who are most in need,” Terza said.
It’s safe to say she’s already making an impact on the next generation of Gator Dentists and dental professionals.