Celebrating Our 2025 Retirees

Each year, the UCLA School of Dentistry honors those who conclude their careers and recognize their service to our shared mission. The 2025 retiree class includes staff and faculty who have shaped patient care, supported our academic programs, and uplifted the community through decades of commitment.

Spanning nearly 350 years of combined service, these 15 retirees represent the very best of UCLA Dentistry their legacies marked by compassion, professionalism, and pride in their work. More than 80 colleagues gathered for a grand send-off during a lunchtime ceremony on Wednesday, June 19, MC’d by Dean Paul H. Krebsbach.

“On behalf of the entire School, I want to thank our retirees for their remarkable contributions,” said Dorothy Tu, associate dean for finance and administration. “Your dedication has helped make UCLA Dentistry a leader in oral health education, research, and care. We wish you happiness and fulfillment in this next life chapter.”

Below are reflections from our retirees on a lasting memory or career highlight during their time at the School of Dentistry.

Nora Barba-Munoz | Clinic Assistant, Faculty Group Dental Practice | 28 years
“Working with patients, colleagues, and my manager.”

Janet Cicero | Financial Services Analyst | 20 years

Kristina Etchison | Division Administrator, Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences | 19 years
“Aside from all the wonderful faculty, staff, and students I had the privilege of working alongside, I will always remember the sheer beauty of the outdoor life on the UCLA campus.  My memories are colored by the blue skies, the golden sun, and the expanses of green; many vistas come to mind that I will never forget. I love the recitals by graduate music students that Mrs. Block held every spring for staff at the Chancellor's residence. Magical!”

Jane Fransella | Executive Assistant to the Dean | 13 years
“The whole school coming together at the holiday breakfasts we used to have. There was great camaraderie. I got to work with some wonderful people on a beautiful campus.”

Dianne D. Fuller | General Clinic Patient Services Supervisor | Nine years
“Every year I've attended the award ceremony for graduating students. I get to meet the student's family members, and since I don't attend graduation, this is a highlight for me at the end of each year.”

Dr. Ed Hewlett | Professor, Restorative Dentistry, and Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion | 38 years
“One evening during the 1986-1987 academic year, Dean Henry Cherrick bolted into an admissions committee meeting and asked me with urgency to step into the hallway. He then took hold of my arm and said, "YOU GOT YOUR TENURE!" Promotion to tenure at this world-class university is one of my proudest and most humbling accomplishments, and I'll never forget Dean Cherrick dropping everything to find me and share the news. He was as excited as I was!”

Scot Kawano | Continuing Education Administrative Manager, Supervisor, Continuing Dental Education | 32 years

Dr. Thomas Lee | Associate Clinical Professor, Restorative Dentistry, and Lee Family Endowed Chair | 29 years

Francesca Moore | Administrative Specialist to the Chair, Orthodontics | 35 years
“I am very happy to have had the experience of growing here at UCLA School of Dentistry. The many faculty, residents, dental students, and co-workers have enriched my life immensely. I thank SOD for all of the opportunities and am very happy to pass it on to the next person to come into the Section of Orthodontics.”

Dr. Ichiro Nishimura | Professor, Biosystems and Function | 28 years

Veronica Rios | Finance Office Manager | 25 years
“A favorite memory of mine is when I was shown what a ‘candy’ can do to prevent cavities in children. It took a lot of effort to gather the raw materials for this project, and it was amazing to see the final result.”

Maria Saldana | Human Resources Manager | 23 years
“Being part of this incredible community meant more than just fulfilling day-to-day responsibilities; it was about the staff, faculty, the relationships, and a shared purpose. One of the highlights of my career was receiving the Supervisor of the Year award, as well as contributing to my team’s success in winning the Team Excellence Award—recognitions that I deeply cherish. However, what made my time truly special was the opportunity to bring the staff together for events like the holiday parties, the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and numerous luncheons and gatherings. What I will miss the most is the amazing group of employees I had the privilege of working with. The camaraderie, support, and teamwork we shared made every challenge easier and every success more meaningful. It has truly been an honor to serve the school, and I will cherish those fond memories forever.”

Celerina Talavera | Insurance Operations Coordinator, Faculty Group Dental Practice | 23 years
“I had the opportunity to meet/know, and work with great colleagues and doctors. Working at the UCLA School of Dentistry was a great experience for me.”

Dr. Xinli Zhang | Adjunct Professor, Biosystems and Function | 28 years
“For over two decades, I have served as the key leading researcher in the NELL1 (Neural Epidermal Growth Factor-Like 1) project, contributing significantly to the advancement of bone regeneration and craniofacial tissue engineering. Additionally, my explorations on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and mammalian neural crest cells for regenerative medicine and pathology have resulted in some intriguing outcomes for possible breakthrough therapies. In parallel with my research, I have maintained a strong commitment to academic mentorship and education. I have had the privilege of teaching and training generations of medical, dental, and undergraduate students, as well as residents, in both classroom and laboratory settings. My dual dedication to discovery and education continues to drive innovation and inspire excellence in the next generation of healthcare professionals.”