"More than any other single person, Dr. Chadwick saw the necessity and the value of creating a statewide dental school with 10 service learning centers," said Chancellor Ballard in a news release. "This is a national model for serving underserved populations."

 

Chadwick came to ECU in 2005 to lead the effort to obtain approval from the University of North Carolina system and the state legislature, as well as funding, to establish the school. He served from 2008-2011 as associate dean for planning and extramural affairs as the school began hiring faculty and staff and admitted its first class. Since August of last year, he has served as interim dean.

 

"I'm extremely pleased and honored with the appointment and the opportunity to work with our great faculty, staff and students," Chadwick said in the university's release.

 

ECU enrolled its second class of 52 students in August. The school has a total of 104 students and is moving into its new home, the 188,000-square-foot Ross Hall, this fall. The North Carolina General Assembly has appropriated approximately $92 million to establish the new dental school.

 

Chadwick, a North Carolina native, will earn $320,000 as dean.

 

After graduating from the UNC School of Dentistry, he practiced general dentistry in a community health center before entering his residency in endodontics. He earned a master's degree in endodontics from the UNC School of Dentistry in 1976 and practiced endodontics in his hometown of Charlotte for 30 years.