Energy, mentorship and passion: Young leaves lasting legacy on DCG

Nancy Young, DMD, MEd, spent nearly two decades at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University, mentoring students, residents and faculty and guiding the state on oral health care. Her leadership elevated the college’s reputation and expanded its statewide footprint, while never losing sight of its central mission: to take care of people.

The university community is now remembering that legacy following her passing June 6 after a long and brave battle with cancer.

“Dr. Nancy Young embodied the very best of Augusta University. As an alumna, educator, scholar and dean, she dedicated her life to serving students, patients and advancing oral healthcare across our state,” said Augusta University President Russell T. Keen. “She cared deeply about people and believed strongly in the power of education, mentorship and compassionate patient care. Her leadership strengthened the Dental College of Georgia, and her influence will continue to be felt through the countless students, residents, faculty members and healthcare professionals whose lives she helped shape. Karen and I join the entire Augusta University community in extending our prayers and condolences to her husband, David, and all who loved her.”

“She was the epitome of endurance, resilience and determination, and she lived those qualities quietly — never drawing attention to herself but always lifting up others on her team,” said Greg Griffin, DMD, associate dean for Student Affairs. “She had a remarkable gift for building people up so they could become the very best version of themselves. What I will always remember most is how genuine she was. Within just a few words in any conversation, you could tell that she sincerely cared about others.”

Kim Capehart, DDS, MBA, PhD, associate dean for Academic Affairs & Advanced Education, said Young’s presence and leadership style left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered.

“Her charisma, energy, connectiveness with people with how well she interacted with everybody, it was off the charts. She was amazing,” Capehart said. “She was a great mentor to me because I came straight from private practice and had never been in academia. Having her as one of my mentors really helped me gauge how to be an educator, taking time with students, faculty and staff. She showed me how to build relationships in academia and make it a great work environment. Her passion was very evident and palpable to me.”

Back to the beginning

Young was an alumna of DCG, graduating in 2006. She earned a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education from East Tennessee State University in 1998 and a Master of Education degree from the University of Georgia in 2018. In 2017, she was named an International College of Dentists Outstanding Faculty Member.

She first joined the DCG faculty as an educator in 2012 as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate dean for Student Affairs in 2018 and served in various roles, including leading the DCG Student Affairs Committee, as well as serving on the AU Student Affairs Committee, the DCG Student Academic Review Committee, the DCG Faculty Senate and the Board of Directors for the AU Dental Associates. She also served on the Georgia Board of Dentistry, helping shape policy that impacted oral healthcare across the state.

Theresa Gonzales, DMD, MS, MSS, who will serve as interim dean, was recruited to DCG by Young. She said when Young stepped into leadership roles, she did so with authenticity rooted in her own experience.

Gonzales attributes Young’s strong work ethic to her path as a non-traditional student, which led to a later start in dental school. In her view, that same dedication makes Young’s rapid rise especially impressive.

“She possessed an innate empathy for the student experience, informed by her own journey, and she never forgot what it was like to be in their shoes,” Gonzales said. “When she chaired the Student Affairs Committee, she didn’t speak down to students from an administrative height; she spoke with them from a place of mutual understanding.”

Babak Baban, PhD, DCG’s associate dean for research, described Young as one of the most approachable and encouraging leaders he has worked with during his time at Augusta University.

“Most importantly, I think people will remember her warmth, accessibility and steady encouragement,” Baban said. “She led with kindness and professionalism, and she remained deeply invested in the success of the people around her.”

He added that her ability to connect with people and build trust made her especially effective as a leader.

While serving as DCG’s associate dean for student affairs, she led the development of a supplemental nutrition program and advocated for the expansion of the Thomas P. Hinman Simulation Center. The lab is used to train students in pre-clinical techniques, predominantly during the first two years of the pre-doctoral curriculum. Workstations double as patient simulators with mannequin heads for simulated treatment and as dental lab stations for performing the laboratory procedures associated with patient care.

Young also created an attendance, excused absence and wellness policy tailored to DCG.

“The students and the faculty knew expectations, and I think that was something that I thought was an effective policy from the very beginning, and we still implement it,” Capehart said.

Capehart noted that Young consistently exceeded expectations when it came to student success.

“Everything was for the students to not make it easier, but to maintain rigor, but also let them know we care, and that we’re there for them and want to support them as best we can,” said Capehart, who noted Young also didn’t mind lighting a fire under them to keep them motivated.

Supporting the work

Young was named interim dean and then promoted to dean in 2023. Her leadership philosophy emphasized respect, patient-centered care and meaningful work.

Gonzales said Young’s authenticity helped create her authority. Young’s peers and students followed her because she lived every facet of the DCG experience. Her transition to the dean’s office was validated by the American College of Dentists Faculty Professionalism Award, a testament to the fact that her ascent was achieved through integrity and steady, quiet competence.

The awards didn’t stop there. She also received the American College of Dentists Faculty Professionalism Award and the DCG ASDA Advocate Award in 2022. Her honors also included the DCG American Student Dental Association Advocate Award, recognition as an International College of Dentists Outstanding Faculty Member, and the DCG Outstanding Faculty Member Award.

She also dedicated her time to research health science education and was a tireless advocate for quality dental instruction. She worked extensively with faculty on projects and publications and was the course director for several courses.

Baban said Young’s support of research went well beyond administrative oversight. She took an active interest in ongoing projects, regularly asked thoughtful questions about scientific progress, and worked closely with faculty to identify opportunities for growth and collaboration.

“She didn’t just talk about supporting research; she truly engaged with it,” Baban said. “She listened carefully, understood what investigators needed and helped communicate those needs to senior leadership. That support made a real difference for many of us.”

Young’s commitment to research was reflected in her direct participation in scholarly activities, including collaborations that resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications. Baban said her involvement demonstrated that she viewed research as an essential component of the college’s mission alongside education, patient care and community service.

Young collaborated to build community at all levels. She increased the frequency and quality of employee engagement and appreciation opportunities and encouraged conference travel for students. She established the foundations of a staff development initiative, showing that she valued employees at every level.

“She also had a deep passion for DCG, not just the school itself, but every student, faculty member and staff member,” Griffin said. “She made people feel valued and appreciated, and she showed it in everything she did. She threw herself into all kinds of events, from Spring Fling to the annual Halloween costume contest, always ready to celebrate and have a great time with everyone at the school. She was just fun.”

She launched a new Clinical/Pre-clinical Student Teaching Assistant Program as well as DCGo! to define the college’s vision for the future. DCGo! represents six core pillars that guide the college toward excellence in academics, advanced education, research, community impact, patient care and fostering a unified culture. She also created the Southeastern Regional Dental Research Symposium, which was organized by The DCG Office of Research.

She started the first research town hall that featured Michael Diamond, MD, former AU senior vice president for Research; Kevin Frazier, DMD, EdS, DCG vice dean; Baban; and Mohamed Meghil, DDS, MS, PhD.

Young also grew the Community Outreach Programs office staff to increase DCG’s community impact and create a new funnel for patient care.

“Nancy was an empowerment leader whose leadership style is best described as transformational, not transactional,” Gonzales said. “She believed in the service ethos and bringing oral health resources into the communities that we are privileged to serve. She could not and would not accept the fact that a patient’s healthcare outcome was determined by their ZIP code. She championed access and health equity.”

Creating a new campus

Gonzales knew Young for almost a decade and was prepared to accept another university offer before Young recruited her to DCG. When she arrived in August 2024, they began planning for DCG Savannah.

Gonzales said working with Young was something she had wanted to do for a while because she was someone who was able and trusted. She also felt the opportunity in Savannah, the state of Georgia and the coastal empire in general would be worth the work.

Gonzales said it was always Young’s intent for this to be an expansion campus of the DCG in Savannah.

“Every bit of that was laid out over that period of time as we looked at what the possibilities were in Savannah,” Gonzales said. “She was very instrumental in shaping that discussion and essentially ensuring what I call brand fidelity, meaning whether you graduate from DCG Augusta or DCG Savannah, you’re a DCG alum.”

Young was also heavily involved in the design of the building and how they would staff it. In the end, Young’s fingerprints will be all over the facility.

“She was keenly aware of what needed to be done at all times,” Gonzales said. “She helped guide our energies and efforts.”

Legacy of mentorship

Capehart said Young was a great mentor to so many people, from experienced to new faculty. She taught many about what it takes to be an educator, compassionate and humanistic, while making sure that DCG maintained its academic rigor.

“We graduate the best clinicians, but at the same time we’re also making sure that we graduate professionals,” he said.

Baban said Young’s care and passion for the research and its details showed everyone that she was paying attention without micromanaging them.

That dedication to work for and with DCG meant a lot to the faculty, according to Baban.

“Nancy wasn’t afraid of the challenges. We were very lucky to have somebody like that.”

Gonzales said Young was a leader who welcomed others’ perspectives and understood she didn’t have to be the only voice in the room.

“Dean Nancy Young leaves an enduring legacy of mentorship,” Gonzales said.

“She showed up every day and gave 110%,” Griffin said. “And across the state, she attended every meeting she could, proudly representing and advocating for our school. Her passion was making DCG great — and making sure everyone else knew just how great it truly is. She will be so deeply missed. Her legacy is the very heart of the DCG — creating excellent healthcare providers that are passionate about serving and caring for others.”

In keeping with her lifelong commitment to education, a scholarship fund has been established to support future students.

To honor Dr. Nancy Young’s legacy, contributions can be made to the Dr. Nancy Young Scholarship Fund.