Cheryl Baptiste, DDS, FICD

President

Dr. Baptiste started working in her father’s dental practice when she was 12-years-old on the weekends and summer vacations. She is a 1984 graduate of Howard University College of Dentistry where she received the Outstanding Student in Oral Diagnosis Award. Upon graduation she completed an Oral Surgery Fellowship and started her own dental practice in 1994. 

She is a member of and has served as an officer, committee chair and committee member of numerous professional organizations such as the American Dental Association (ADA), DC Dental Society (DCDS), National Dental Association (NDA), NDA Eddie G Smith Leadership Institute and Mentoring Programs, Robert T Freeman Dental Society (RTFDS), Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), International College of Dentists (ICD), Founding Member Women Dentist’s of Metropolitan DC (WDMDC), Greater Washington Academy of Women Dentists (GWAWD), International Association of Dentists (IAD), American Institute of Implant Dentistry (AIID), International Academy of Mini Dental Implantology (IAMDI) , NDA/RTFDS Independent Provider Association (IPA) and National Medical Association (NMA).

Dr. Baptiste currently serves as the Secretary to the National Dental Association Board of Trustees, Immediate Past President of RTFDS, member of the ADA Task Force to Eliminate Barriers for Underrepresented Minorities into the Dental Profession, and is the President-Elect of the DC Dental Society.

Dr. Baptiste is in private practice in Washington, DC, enjoys traveling and spends weekends on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with her partner, Darryl Hill.

Reginald Salter, DDS, MBA, PhD, FICD, FACD

Board Chair

Dr. Salter is a native of Dawson, Georgia.  He received a B.S. in Biology from  Xavier University of Louisiana,  Doctorate in Dental Surgery from Howard University, and a residency in the U.S. Navy. He later received a MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix. He maintained a private practice with locations in Charles County Md and Washington DC until retiring from full time practice in 2018 to pursue a fulltime career in dental education. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Comprehensive Dentistry at Howard University in Washington D.C. where he serves as Director for Admissions, Student Activities, and Programs.  Dr. Salter defended his dissertation to receive a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Northcentral University.  He was recognized by the American Association of Dental Educators for his research and publications in dental education. He is heavily involved in the recruitment and mentoring of young men of color in dental and medical healthcare programs.  As a native of a rural community in Ga, Dr. Salter is dedicated to local and international health relief missions in areas where there are great disparities.  He leads a group of dental providers, assistants, dental students, and pre-dental students biannually to various clinics and locations in Jamaica to provide dental care for the community as well as volunteers with Remote Area Medical (RAM).

Dr. Salter is President-Elect for Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society-Pi Pi Chapter, a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Robert T. Freeman Dental Society, Faculty Advisor for Delta Mu Chi Fraternity, Inc., a Fellow in the International College of Dentists, and a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Wallace J. Bellamy, DMD, FACD, FICD, FPFA, CDC

President-Elect

Dr. Bellamy was born in Queens, New York. As the child of a career Air Force Professional, he has lived all over the world including New York, Texas, Europe and California. He graduated from Boston University School of Dentistry in 1989 and has been in private practice since 1993. Dr. Bellamy feels that dentistry is an important part of a person’s overall health. Not only does it help improve esthetics and smiles but can improve people’s lives. Dr. Bellamy loves his patients. The personal interaction and relationships he has made over the years have been phenomenal.

In serving the community and his profession, Dr. Bellamy has taken leadership roles in many dental associations over the years Some of his most important work has been as President of the Sacramento District Dental Society California Dental Association (CDA) Leadership Development Committee – Vice Chairman, and member of the Sacramento District Dental Society Ethics Committee and Sacramento District Dental Society Continuing Education Committee.

In his spare time Dr. Bellamy enjoys traveling, riding horses, skiing and most important of all, spending time with his 3 daughters.

Bryant Jones, DDS

Secretary

Dr. Bryant Jones is a 2004 Graduate of Meharry School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee.  He then completed General Practice Residency at Brooklyn Hospital (New York) in 2005 and OMFS internship at Harlem Hospital 2006. He later returned back to Meharry/Metro General Hospital to complete his OMFS training in 2010. He has served the NDA as President of New Era Dental Society (local chapter Philadelphia-Metro area), Member of the Board of Trustees, and now Secretary of the NDA. Dr. Jones lives Philadelphia, Pa with his wife and 3 children. He is currently in private practice and an attending doctor for the GPR program at Jefferson-Abington Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Daniel Young, DDS

Assistant Secretary

Bio coming soon...

Edward H. Chappelle, Jr., DDS, FACD

Treasurer

​Dr. Edward Chappelle, Jr, a distinguished dental professional, boasts a rich career rooted in academic excellence and leadership. Graduating with a B.A. in Mathematics from Rutgers University RC in 1975 and earning his D.D.S. from Meharry Medical College in 1979, Dr. Chappelle has been a trailblazer in oral health. Recognized as a Fellow by both the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) in 1996 and the American College of Dentists in 2014, he has consistently contributed to the advancement of dentistry.

With a tenure that includes presidencies at the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society and the National Dental Association, as well as chairing the NDA Board of Trustees in 2017 and 2018, Dr. Edward Chappelle, Jr. has been a driving force in dental leadership. Actively engaged in organizations like the National Dental Association, American Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry (Emeritus), the Robert T. Freeman Dental society, and the Maryland Foundation for Dentistry, his impact extends beyond professional spheres. As a luminary in the dental field, Dr. Chappelle blends expertise, leadership, and a fervent commitment to advancing oral health.

Lenise Yarber, DDS

Assistant Treasurer

Dr. Yarber spent her childhood in beautiful Anchorage, Alaska and attended high school in Federal Way, Washington. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California (USC) in 2002. She continued her education in dentistry at the USC School of Dentistry, where she received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. During her studies, she was the recipient of the Doctors Out To Care Award, the USC Century Award for Academic Achievement, the American Dental Hygiene Association Award for Commitment & Service, and the Colgate-Palmolive Outstanding Leadership Award.

Upon graduation, she was appointed a position as a member of the USC School of Dentistry faculty and served as a liaison for the recruitment and retention of underserved students into the profession of dentistry.

With a passion for the oral health care needs of children, Dr. Yarber completed an Advance Pediatric Dental Residency at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine’s Harlem Hospital based program in New York. In 2010, she received the Harlem Hospital New York City Health and Hospital Corporation Women in History Award for Outstanding Commitment to Patient Care.

With commitment and enthusiasm for outreach and service, Dr. Yarber is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, California Society of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, California Dental Association, National Dental Association, and serves as a member of the Angel City Dental Society.

Joshua Benjamin Tyson, DDS, MPH

Speaker of the House

Dr. Tyson practices dentistry in Suffolk, Virginia where he is the Main Clinical Director and owner of Aspen Dental in Harborview. Prior to working in Virginia, he worked at CamCare Health Corporation, a Federally Qualified Health Center, in Camden, NJ, where he provided dental care to underserved populations across the State of New Jersey. Joshua is a member of the National Dental Association, currently serving as the Speaker of the House, he previously served as a member of the Board of Trustees representing District 1. He was a member of the Commonwealth Dental Association where he was the District 2 Regional Delegate. Joshua is an active member of the Psi Omega Dental Fraternity – The Ohio State University College of Dentistry Chapter.

In 2019, Joshua was the proud recipient of the New Jersey Primary Care Association’s Healthcare Heroes Award for his work that benefited the FQHC and the men, women and children who receive quality, compassionate and affordable healthcare, as well as actively participating in the communities served by CAMcare.

In 2021, Dr. Tyson was awarded the first annual “40 Under 40 Award”, and the President’s Award for his contributions to the organization. Joshua is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, the Rutgers School of Public Health, and Morehouse College. He currently resides in Suffolk,Va, and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated.

John Nelson, DDS

Vice Speaker of the House

Dr. Nelson graduated of University of South Florida with a degree in chemistry and is a 2008 graduate Howard University college of Dentistry. Dr. Nelson currently is in practice dentistry in Miami, Florida.

Dr. Nelson is the current president of the Miami-Dade County Dental Society where he has been a member since 2009.

Dr. Nelson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He also enjoys very much being involved in the local community in South Florida. Dr. Nelson was born in Montreal, Canada and has been a Miami resident since his teenage years.

Nicole Cheek, DDS, FACD

Immediate Past President

Dr. Cheek graduated from the prestigious Howard University College of Dentistry in 2014. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Howard University, as well. As an undergraduate, she was a student member of the Deamonte Driver Dental Project, for which she received a Commendation from the Governor of Maryland.

Dr. Cheek practices General Dentistry full-time in Washington, DC, and works on NDA’s signature program, NDA-HEALTH NOW®. In Washington, she has made several Congressional visits to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to advocate for Oral Health for the underserved. Through NDA-HEALTH NOW®, Dr. Cheek works to conduct community outreach events and support events all over the U.S. She is a published author in the American Journal of Public Health and the Morehouse publication, Oral Health in America: Removing the Stain of Disparity. She has also served on numerous Planning Committees for Interprofessional Education programs.

Dr. Cheek has received several awards, including the NDA Presidential Special Recognition Award (2019), the Colgate New Dentist Leadership Award (2020), the NDA 40 Under 40 Award (2022), and she is a graduate of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership program (2022). Presently, Dr. Cheek serves on the Executive Committee of the National Dental Association as President-Elect, and she is the Secretary of the Howard University College of Dentistry Alumni Association. She has also served on the Executive Committee for the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society. Dr. Cheek maintains memberships in the Jamaica Dental Association and The Links, Incorporated.

​

Marcus Ware, JD

Interim Executive Director

Mr. Ware brings over a decade of expertise in nonprofit management and higher education leadership, having held roles at nationally recognized organizations such as the United Negro College Fund and the Aspen Institute. Early in his career, he served on both the board and staff at Howard University, and has worked with several D.C.-based organizations, including Generation Hope and The George Washington University. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from Howard University.

With extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and fostering opportunities for individuals from historically marginalized communities, Mr. Ware is well-equipped to lead the NDA in advancing oral health equity and promoting diversity within the dental profession.

In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Ware is actively involved in civic and community service, serving as Vice Chair of the Board for Joan’s House, Inc., and on the board of the Jeremiah Program - Baltimore as well as Thrive Scholars’ National Law Advisory Board.