Board of Directors

Chair

Dr. Rudy Ramos graduated from the University of Texas School of Dentistry in 1990. Dr. Ramos has been in private practice since 1991.

Dr. Ramos was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Dental Board from 2009 to 2017 and served as president of the board from 2012 to 2017. Dr. Ramos has been involved with testing development and administration since 2010 and has served in several roles including grading examiner and Team Captain. Additionally, he served as the Chairman of the Endodontic committee and then served on the Dental Exam Review Board for the legacy WREB organization.

Vice Chair

Dr. Waite graduated from Loyola University Chicago College of Dental Surgery in 1987 and has practiced general dentistry in Arizona since then.

Appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano in 2006, Dr. Waite served on the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners for twelve years, the last six years as President. He has been an examiner for the past twenty years and has served on multiple committees, most recently as Assistant Chair of the assignment committee, and has also served as ADEX Treasurer for four years.

He also served on the legacy WREB organizations Board of Directors, three years as a member at large and three years as Treasurer and served on their Dental Exam Review Board for nine years.

Treasurer

In 2013, Dr. Thomas was appointed to the District of Columbia Board of Dentistry and concluded his tenure serving as the Board’s Chairperson in February 2022. He is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. He served as a Board Commissioner of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and ADEX’s Board of Directors before its merger with CWC.

Dr. Thomas is a Lieutenant Colonel in the District of Columbia Army National Guard and a practicing general dentist. Dr. Thomas has been an active examiner since 2014, serving on several committees. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors for Whitman-Walker Health Center.

He shares his talents by supporting his undergraduate alma mater, Morehouse College, and several D.C. area art programs, including the John F. Kennedy Center Circles, Washington National Opera, Washington Performing Arts, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and as an Ambassador for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Secretary

Diane Klemann, RDH, is a 1986 graduate of Carroll College with a bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene. Over the span of her career, she has been licensed and practiced in the state of Missouri, Illinois, North Dakota and Montana. Diane has also been an instructor at Lake Land College in Mattoon Illinois. She previously served two terms on the Montana State Board of Dentistry, serving terms as Vice President and President, and is the former Dental Hygiene member of the American Association of Dental Boards. Klemann was on the board for the Western Regional Examining Board from 2016-2019.

Dental Hygiene Member at Large

Melissa Barbara, RDH, MS, is a licensed dental hygienist with more than 18 years of clinical experience and extensive leadership in dental regulation, education, and clinical licensure examinations. She earned her Master of Science in Dental Hygiene from the University of New Mexico in 2016, where she also served as an adjunct clinical instructor. Melissa served two terms, totaling 11 years, on the New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care, holding leadership positions including Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary of the Dental Hygiene Committee and dental hygiene member on the dental board.

Since 2014, she has served as a clinical examiner and in various leadership roles with national dental examination organizations, including legacy ADEX organizations. She has also served on the ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination Committee and as the Dental Hygiene representative for New Mexico and is currently an advisor to the ADEX Scoring Committee. Additionally, Melissa served on the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB) Nominating and Membership Committee from 2022 to 2024. She currently holds a leadership position with CE Zoom Partners, as the Director of Regulations, focusing on continuing education, regulatory compliance, and professional compliance requirements.

Dental Hygiene Member at Large

With more than four decades of experience in clinical dental hygiene, education, regulatory leadership, and board examination administration, Susan has made lasting contributions to the dental profession. A former Vice President of the Ohio State Dental Board, she continues to advance excellence in oral health care through her current role at Merion Village Dental, where she leads staff development, continuing education programming, and school outreach initiatives. Susan has also served as a keynote speaker and committee chair with the Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Association and has devoted her time to volunteer service with Remote Area Medical and COVID-19 response teams.

Dental Member at Large

Dr. Melodie Marie Anderson Jones has over 32 years of experience in private dental practice, providing comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages. A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Birmingham, Alabama, she is a member of the American Dental Association, Alabama Dental Association, Second District Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry, Alabama Academy of General Dentistry, University of Alabama School of Dentistry Alumni Association, American College of Dentists, and International College of Dentists. She is the Immediate Past President of the Alabama Board of Dental Examiners and Vice President of the Alabama Academy of General Dentistry.

Dental Member at Large

(Coming soon)

Vice Chair, Council on Examinations

Dr. Renee McCoy-Collins is a trailblazing oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a proud graduate of Howard University Dental School, where she made history as the first female to complete the program in her specialty. A respected leader in both clinical and administrative realms, she has held key positions such as Director of Dental Residency Programs at Howard University Hospital and Associate Chief Medical Officer at DC General Hospital.

Dr. McCoy-Collins has long championed equitable access to healthcare, leading initiatives that expand dental and medical services to underserved communities throughout Washington, D.C. and has served in leadership roles for ADEX, AADB, and the National Dental Association.

Chair, Council on Examinations

Dr. McVea graduated from the LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans in 1987. After graduation, he entered private practice with his father, where they served the community together for more than 30 years.

Governor Bobby Jindal appointed Dr. McVea to the Louisiana Board of Dentistry in 2010. He served as President of CITA, the Council on Interstate Testing Agencies, from 2014 to 2018 and 2022. He was elected to the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) Executive Committee in 2016 and served as its President in the merger with CWC.

Dr. McVea is a Master Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and continues to practice while examining nationwide.

Dental Member at Large

(Coming soon)

Dental Member at Large

(Coming soon)

Dental Member at Large

Dr. Merlin Young has served in a variety of roles supporting the administration of the ADEX dental examination. With six years of experience on the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, including terms as president in 2017 and 2019, Dr. Young brings deep regulatory insight and leadership to his work. He particularly values his role as a Chief Floor Examiner (CFE), where he takes pride in fostering a positive rapport with candidates and ensuring they understand that the ADEX examination process is fair and transparent. A graduate of Howard University College of Dentistry, Class of 1979, Dr. Young is licensed to practice dentistry in both North Carolina and New York.