James J. Koelbl, D.D.S., M.S., M.J.
Executive Associate Dean
Born in Chicago, Dr. Koelbl received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1973. Following dental school, Dr. Koelbl entered the private practice of general dentistry in the Chicago area. He has practiced full-time and part-time for more than 20 years in urban and rural locations.
Dr. Koelbl has held various positions in dental education at six dental schools, including director of the general practice residency program; chairman of the department of operative dentistry; Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. Dr. Koelbl served on the staff of the American Dental Association in Chicago as Associate Executive Director, Education and Group Associate Executive Director, Professional Services, with responsibility for the divisions of Education, Science, and Dental Practice.
Dr. Koelbl has served for more than 15 years as a dental dean, holding positions as Dean, West Virginia University School of Dentistry; Founding Dean of the Western University Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine in Pomona, California; and Founding Dean of the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. In June 2013, Dr. Koelbl was appointed Interim Provost of UNE; in September of the same year, he was appointed Provost and Senior Vice President of the University. In October 2017, Dr. Koelbl returned to the faculty of the UNE College of Dental Medicine in the position of Executive Associate Dean.
He is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Society. Dr. Koelbl has served in numerous roles in organized dentistry, including as a member of the Committee on Specialty Recognition of the American Dental Association and President-Elect of the West Virginia Dental Association. In June 2017, he was elected to the position of Vice President of the Maine Dental Association, and serves as a member of the Executive Board of that organization.
Dr. Koelbl served for eight years as a consultant to the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) chairing comprehensive dental school accreditation site visits throughout the country. He was appointed to a four-year term as a member of the Commission in 2005; served as Vice-Chair in 2007-08; and served as Chair in 2008-09. Dr. Koelbl also chaired the CODA Task Force charged with reviewing and implementing recommendations made by the 2008 American Dental Association House of Delegates; served on the ADA-CODA Joint Committee on International Accreditation; and served as a member of the Task Force to develop accreditation standards for mid-level dental provider programs.
In 2005, Dr. Koelbl was appointed as a founding member of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA)/American Association of Dental Research (AADR) National Oral Health Advocacy Committee (NOHAC). In 2007, he was elected to a two-year term as Chair of NOHAC, which was reorganized back into the American Dental Education Association Legislative Advisory Committee (LAC). He continued to serve as the Chairman of LAC until 2010. In that role, Dr. Koelbl helped develop the ADEA Principles of Health Care Reform, a document that was approved and adopted by the ADEA House of Delegates. In 2010, Dr. Koelbl was asked to serve as Chairman of the American Dental Education Association Task Force to develop Guiding Principles for the Education of New Oral Health Professionals.