Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry
2014
Bio:
Dr. Virginia Merchant joined University of Detroit (now University of Detroit Mercy) in 1980 as an Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Dentistry. In 1985 she was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure and then earned the rank of full Professor in 1992 as a member of the Department of Biomedical Science, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry.
During her thirty-three years as a member of the School of Dentistry faculty, one support letter author wrote “she has impressed me with her ability to be up-to-date in contemporary clinical aspects of microbiology and infectious diseases related to dentistry. She is considered to be an effective teacher by both colleagues and students who participate in her course offerings to dental hygiene, pre-doctoral and graduate dental students. In that regard she has been described as capable, prepared, knowledgeable, honest, willing, reliable, objective, pragmatic, and dedicated.”
Dean Aksu, School of Dentistry wrote in his support letter “Dr. Merchant has provided distinguished service to the School of Dentistry and to University of Detroit Mercy through teaching and service….Much has changed at the School of Dentistry and within the profession of dentistry over Dr. Merchant’s 32 year career and she has done well to keep up with the changes. Most importantly, Dr. Merchant provided our students with clinically relevant perspective into microbiology and immunology, the two subjects Dr. Merchant taught throughout the years.
Dr. Merchant’s commitment to service to the School of Dentistry, the University, the profession, and the community is laudable. For the School of Dentistry, she served as Vice President of the Dental School Faculty Assembly, chaired the Faculty Rank and Tenure Committee, and co-chaired the first Strategic Planning Committee for the school. She also served on the Dental Hygiene Curriculum Committee, Dental Curriculum Committee, Dental Student Progress and Promotions Committee, the Dental Hygiene Student Promotions Committee, and many more.
For the university, Dr. Merchant served as chair of the UDM Faculty Excellence Awards Selection Committee, the shared governance Facilities Planning, Standards, and Safety Team and the Faculty Development Team. She also has served on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Conflict of Interest Review Committee, Mission Awareness Committee, and Institutional Review Board.
Dr. Merchant has received many honors. She received the President’s Award for Faculty Excellence, School of Dentistry, a Fellowship in the American College of Dentists, University of Detroit Mercy Distinguished Faculty Award, the Detroit District Dental Society President’s Recognition Award, the Pierre Fauchard Academy Distinguished Service Award, ADA Presidential Citation, MDA Public Service Award, and membership in the Society of the Sigma Xi and Phi Kappa Phi.
Prior to her appointment at UDM she served as a Fellow in the Department of Dental Research, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Emory University in Atlanta Georgia. She was a Research Assistant in the Department of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia and a Research Associate, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia. From 1978-1993 Dr. Merchant was Major in the U.S. Army Reserves, Dental Corps, General Dentist.
Professor Merchant holds a D.M.D from the Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry, Augusta, George, a Master’s in Science from University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, and a B.A. from Winthrop College, Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Professor Merchant’s nomination for Professor Emerita was approved and conferred by Dr. Antoine M. Garibaldi, President of University of Detroit Mercy on August 18, 2014.