Dr. Ken Molen
Dental Hygiene Program Administrator/Co-Director/ Director of Education

D.D.S. Doctor of Dental Surgery - Loyola University
M.A. Education - Chapman University
B.A. Education - Brigham Young University

Dr. Molen is the founder of the Utah College of Dental Hygiene.  Dr. Molen is an active lifetime member of the American Dental Association (ADA), an institutional member of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), and is a member of the American Dental Hygienist Association (ADHA). He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Provo District Dental Society and is a Utah Dental Association (UDA) Convention Delegate. His educational background includes nine years of teaching in the California public school system and over 20 years of experience as a dental educator and administrator.  Dr. Molen's general dentistry private practice experience includes successful practices in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. In 1984, Dr. Molen opened the first dentist-owned accredited private dental assisting college in the nation.  Since that time over a thousand students from the United States and Canada have graduated from his programs, which continue to this day.  In 2005,  Dr. Molen opened the first dentist-owned private dental hygiene college in Utah - The Utah College of Dental Hygiene.

Dr. Molen is actively involved with many community and state organizations to provide free and low cost dental care for underserved populations who do not, or would not have access to traditional dental care. 

Dr. Molen can be reached at director@ucdh.edu.

Patricia J. Nunn RDH, MS
Co-Director, Dean of Students and Associate Director of Education  

M.S. Education, Curriculum and Instruction                   1979 - Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi
B.S. Health Occupations                                                      1976 - Southwest Texas State University
A.A.S Dental Hygiene                                                           1972 - Coastal Bend Community College

Patricia J. Nunn (Trisha) is the Dean at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene. Besides her current duties at UCDH, Dean Nunn served as professor and chair of the Dental Hygiene Department at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, as Health Sciences Division Chair and Director of Dental Hygiene at Coastal Bend Community College, and as Clinical Coordinator at the University of Louisianan at Monroe.

Professor Nunn has served on the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Board of Directors serving as vice president for Allied Dental Program Directors. She has published numerous scholarly articles and is a member of the Access Editorial Advisory Board (a publication of the American Dental Hygienists' Association). She has authored several continuing education works, contributed to textbooks, and acted as consultant and reviewer to publishers for textbooks and dictionaries.

Professor Nunn has been active in American Dental Hygienists' Association activities and has served as an ADEA's representative to the American Dental Hygienists' Association Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner Advisory Committee. She also has served as educational consultant and site visitor for the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. In 2003, she received the ADEA/Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Allied Educator's Fellowship.

Laurel Sampson RDH, BS
Full Time Faculty; Second Year Clinical Coordinator

AZ State Special Teaching Certificate         1998 - Phoenix, Arizona
B.S. Health Arts                                                2003 - St. Francis University
A.A.S Dental Hygiene                                      1978 - Weber State University

Laurel Sampson is Second Year Clinical Coordinator for the Utah College of Dental Hygiene. She is also the Course Director for the following courses: Professional Dental Hygiene 1, Professional Dental Hygiene 2, Professional Dental Hygiene 3, and Professional Dental Hygiene 4.

Professor Sampson has extensive experience in clinical dental hygiene gained through more than twenty-five years in private practice and public health service. She has a wide-range of teaching experience in both education and business including private and corporate dental practices, educator conferences, international distributors, sales trainer, RDH, RDA, guest lecturer, didactic dental hygiene courses, and clinical instruction in all dental hygiene laboratory skills. She has worked in the Arizona State Sealant Program, Kid's Smile Day Practitioner , and Special Population Indian Health Practitioner.

Professor Sampson has served at the Rio Salado College of Dental Hygiene as Senior Clinic and Didactic Instructor. She has taught numerous courses including Radiology Lab, Anesthesia Lab, Dental Materials Lab, Dental Assisting Lab, Clinic 1 Didactic Instructor, and Lab Manual Author/Editor. She was the head of the hygiene department in multiple doctors' practices for more than eleven years. Professor Sampson worked for Ultradent Products, Inc. in many areas including Product Education Specialist, Convention Sales, Marketing Department, Educator Conference Instructor, International Distributor Educator, and RDH & Assisting School Lecturer.

Bart Denhalter RDH, BSDH
Full Time Faculty

B.S.D.H. Dental Hygiene                                1999 - University of Oklahoma
B.S. Behavioral Science & Health               1996  - University of Utah

Bart Denhalter teaches Advanced Dental Hygiene, Clinical Rotations, Current Issues in Dentistry, Clinical Dental Hygiene 2 and 3, and Clinical Lecture.

Professor Denhalter has practiced in private practice for many years. His background in computer technology and business has helped him to develop many strong consistent periodontal programs that help dentist provide the best care for their patients. Professor Denhalter also works with rural communities to provide quality care to patients. He is fluent in Spanish and served a two-year mission for the LDS Church. His innovative ideas and positive reinforcement reflects his dedication in helping his students succeed.

Sandra (Bobi) Merritt RDH, MA.ED
Full Time Faculty; Assistant Professor

M.A. Arts of Education           2006 - University of Phoenix
B.S Human Service                2002 - University of Phoenix
A.A.S Dental Hygiene            1997 - Salt Lake Community College

Bobi Merritt is an Assistant Professor for the Utah College of Dental Hygiene. She is also the Course Director for the following courses: Periodontics1, Community Dental Health, Community Practicum, Community Research Practicum, Periodontics 2, and Practice Management.

Professor Merritt has worked in the dental community for more than seventeen years. She has served as the Director of Salt Lake Community College's dental hygiene program. She also has been Clinical Director and Course Instructor at SLCC. She has taught a variety of courses including Dental Hygiene Theory, Periodontology 1&2, and Public Health. Professor Merritt is dedicated to public service. During her undergraduate work she served more than 350 hours volunteering with different groups to better lives. She continually donates her time and skills to non-profit organizations including the Salvation Army, Donated Dental, Salt Lake Valley Health Department and many more. She has been involved with a variety of service projects to benefit those in need.

Professor Merritt has been awarded many scholarships from different organizations including the Scholarship for Academic Achievement form the Philanthropist Society, The Outstanding Individual Effort and Success in Spite of Adversity Award from Proctor and Gamble, and the Opportunity for Improvement Scholarship by the Alumni Network at the University of Phoenix.

Dr. Jason Allan DDS

Full Time Faculty; Director of Restorative Services

D.D.S Doctor of Dental Surgery            2006 - University of Iowa College of Dentistry
B.S. Zoology                                               2002 - Idaho State University
AAS General Studies                               1999 - Ricks College

Dr. Allan is a Full Time Faculty Member, Assistant Professor, and the Director of Restorative Services at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene. He is also the Course Director for the following courses: Head & Neck Anatomy, Pharmacology, Pain Control, and Pathology.

Dr. Allan was an All American in Baseball before attending and graduating from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. His motivational team spirit continues in his classroom--making him a favorite among students. He is fluent in Spanish and continually serves, even taking two years out of his academic career to serve a mission for the LDS Church. Dr. Allan has also worked with Community Health Connect to provide thousands of dollars in free dental services. He enjoys working with the students and has spent many lunches and after school hours helping groups of students prepare for National Boards. He has dedicated many hours to research and continuing education even completing the Master Teacher Development Process and attending a two-day enhancement workshop.

Dr. Dean Molen DDS
Clinical Supervising Dentist
Part-Time Faculty

D.D.S. Doctor of Dental Surgery - University of Washington (Seattle)
B.S. - Brigham Young University

Dr. Molen served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps following graduation from dental school and then returned to the University of Washington where he served as a clinical instructor in the department of treatment planning and oral diagnosis. Dr. Molen had a private practice in Auburn, Washington, before moving to Kennewick, Washington, where he practiced for more than thirty years in private practice.

Dr. Molen is an avid hiker and mountaineer. He is enjoying the outdoor activities that Utah has to offer.

Erika H. McCormick
Full-Time Faculty

First Year Clinic Coordinator

B.S.D.H.  Dental Hygiene (Summa Cum Laude) - Weber State University

Erika is the First Year Clinical Coordinator for the Utah College Of Dental Hygiene.   Erika has 4 years of experience in private practice as a dental hygienist and four years experience as a dental assistant, making her combined dental experience more than eight years.  She has served the dental hygiene profession with her efforts in continuing education.  She has given lectures regarding eating disorders in the dental office and low level laser therapy for hygienists.  She has also completed her Associate Fellowship Certification with the World Clinical Laser Institute.  She is a six-year member of both the American Dental Hygiene Association and the Utah Dental Hygiene Association, and has served as an Alternate Delegate with UDHA.  Erika is passionate about dental hygiene and assuring each of her students a quality education.