Dr. Crain grew up in Portland, Oregon, graduated high school in Palm Springs, CA, and earned her B.S. degree in physiology with a minor in Chinese studies from the University of California, San Diego. She received her D.D.S. degree from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle, WA and practiced general dentistry in Portland where she also taught preclinical operative dentistry at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry. Dr. Crain went on to complete an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. through the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry and the Bloch School of Management. Her area of doctoral study and research was in organizational development and change in dental education. Dr. Crain joined the inaugural leadership team at the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine as the Assistant Dean for Educational Support and Faculty Development, and was the interim Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Interprofessional Collaboration. After seven years, Dr. Crain transferred to serve at the Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine in South Jordan, UT as the Assistant Dean for Innovative Faculty Development and Interprofessional Collaboration. In 2022, Dr. Crain was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow into the National Academies of Practice, our nation’s oldest interprofessional association established in 1981 to advise government on healthcare. She currently serves as the Creighton University School of Dentistry Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and remains an active member in the American Dental Education Association and the National Academies of Practice. She is excited to be part of the Creighton family and to build on the strong legacy of the School of Dentistry. In her free time, Dr. Crain enjoys spending time with her family, playing the piano, and hiking.

Research Interests
Organizational Studies
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Qualitative Analysis
System Dynamics Modeling