Dr. Kenneth B. Chance, Sr. has served as dean and professor of endodontics at Case Western Reserve University's School of Dental Medicine since 2014. Notably, he is the first African-American to be a permanent dean of two U.S. dental schools, having also held the position at Meharry Medical College.
A proud alumnus of the Bronx High School of Science, Dr. Chance earned his bachelor's degree from Fordham University and his DDS degree from Case Western Reserve University's School of Dental Medicine. He furthered his training with a General Practice Residency (GPR) certificate from Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and a certificate in Endodontics from Rutgers University School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Chance's academic career includes a significant tenure at the University of Kentucky, where he was professor and chief of endodontics for 14 years. He has also held numerous leadership roles, including serving as the immediate past president of the Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), the National Dental Honor Society.
In 1999, Dr. Chance became the first African-American male dean elected to the Administrative Board of the Council of Deans, as member-at-large of the American Association of Dental Schools. He is a life fellow of the American and International College of Dentists, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the Academy of Political Science. Additionally, he is a life member of the American Dental Association (ADA), the Ohio Dental Association (ODA), and the Greater Cleveland Dental Society.
Dr. Chance's contributions to the dental field have been widely recognized. He is a distinguished practitioner in the National Academies of Practice in Dentistry and has been a Pew National Dental Leadership Fellow and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow and board member. He was honored with the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004 and was the first dentist elected to the Case Western Reserve University Board of Trustees, where he served as co-chairman of the Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee. After nine years, he stepped down from this role to serve as dean of the School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Chance's achievements have earned him the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. He is also a member of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc., and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.
Dean Chance successfully helped lead the most ambitious building project to date, construction of the new Health Education Campus and Dental Clinic.
In recognition of his impactful career, the Dean Kenneth B. Chance, DDS Endowed Distinguished Lectureship was established at CWRU in 2021. With over 90 awards, citations, and special recognitions, along with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and over 160 invited presentations nationally and internationally, Dr. Chance continues to be a leading figure in dental education and practice.