Alumni Stories

They’re All Smiles
A white woman with long blonde hair and wearing a cream-colored top, blue pants and beige high-heel shoes sits on a dark wood table with her hands clasped around her knee as a man with thinning dark hair, plaid shirt, brown belt and dark pants leans in from her right. Both are in front of a lighted sign with the words You Make Me Smile in cursive script

Nadim Guirguis and Megan Tufteland pivoted in their careers, they found dentistry. That led the Dental Medicine Alumni of the Year to UNLV — and to each other.

The Interview: Dr. Eve Chung
smiling woman outside holding small stuffed item

The combination of art and science inspired the two-time alumna to pursue dentistry; the unwavering faith of her mentors encouraged her to return as an instructor.

Rooting Out Root Canals and Brokering Brand Deals
Kathryn Mueller Smiles at White Coat Ceremony

UNLV dental student ranks top of her class while inspiring others as a YouTube fitness creator.

New Faces: Benjamin Barborka
Benjamin Barborka

This dentist's tip for success is to avoid the temptation to take shortcuts since only persistence and hard work are going to get you where you want to be.

Resources

Previous Alumni of the Year

Year Alum
2025 Nadim Guirguis, DMD ‘11 and Megan Tufteland, DMD ‘13
2024 Benjamin Barborka, DMD ‘13
2022 Evelyn Herrera, DMD ‘16
2021 Jesse Falk, DMD '11 and Michael Moody, DMD '12
2020 Brandi Dupont, DMD, ‘07
2019 Dwayne Jensen, DMD, '09
2018 Ashley Hoban, DMD, '09
2017 Cody Hughes, DMD, ‘07
2016 Nora Vinh Svihl, DMD, '07
2015 Robert B. Hale, DMD, '09
2014 Dee Dee Meevisan, DMD, ‘07
2013 Emily Ishkanian, DMD, ’11
2012 Bill Dahlke, DMD, ’06, ‘12