The Lyon College School of Dental Medicine has officially announced its inaugural class of 80 students, marking a significant milestone as Arkansas’s first dental school opens its doors in the heart of Little Rock.

“This is a historic moment for Lyon College and for the state,” said Dr. Burke Soffe, founding dean of the dental school. “We are excited to welcome our first cohort of students, who will help shape the future of oral health care in Arkansas and beyond.”

The Class of 2028 represents a diverse and accomplished group, hailing from 17 states, with 43% of students from Arkansas and 33% from bordering states. The cohort includes 17 first-generation college students and three active-duty U.S. Army members. Over 60% of the students bring prior experience working in dental clinics. The average cumulative GPA is 3.50, with a science GPA of 3.36 and an average Dental Admission Test (DAT) score of 19, matching the national average.

“We’ve intentionally built a dynamic class of student leaders who are passionate about improving oral health in their communities,” Soffe said.

Located in the Riverdale neighborhood of Little Rock, the dental school reflects Lyon College’s mission to expand access to health care education in Arkansas and the surrounding region. The three-year Doctor of Dental Medicine program emphasizes rigorous academic preparation, hands-on clinical training, and a deep commitment to service.

Members of the inaugural class include the following:

• Seth Abraham, Little Rock, Arkansas, graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in Medical Humanities.
• Allison “Allie” Altman, New Orleans, Louisiana, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a minor in Sociology from Louisiana State University.
• Kent Arbuckle, West Bountiful, Utah, earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Weber State University.
• Shiraz Atif, Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
• Erika Bittinger, Bismarck, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Human Health and Performance from Henderson State University.
• Baleigh Brumfield, Summit, Mississippi, has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics with a minor in Chemistry at the University of Mississippi.
• Kinslee Burdan, McGehee, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
• Richard (Miller) Burnside, Canton, Mississippi, earned a degree in Allied Health Sciences from the University of Mississippi.
• Evelyn Butler, Minden, Louisiana, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Louisiana Tech University.
• Cade Byrd, Jonesboro, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Arkansas State University.
• Brianna Carmony, Texarkana, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Texas Tech University.
• Karlee Carmony, Marion, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology Pre-Health and a Master of Science in Pharmacology from Southern Arkansas University.
• Christopher (Bailey) Comer, Springdale, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
• Lindsey Cox, Atkins, Arkansas, graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Biomedical Option) and a minor in Leadership.
• Alexandra Crawley, Jonesboro, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Arkansas State University.
• Mary Jane “MJ” Danforth, Fayetteville, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
• John Andrew Dean, Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Arkansas.
• Riya Deshpande, Conway, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Hendrix College.
• Kimberly Doan, Anaheim, California, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of the Pacific.
• Nour El Ammar, Dearborn Heights, Michigan, earned a Master of Laboratory Science from Oakland University.
• Aldamir Elvir Martinez, Charlotte, North Carolina, earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Johnson & Wales University and a Master of Biomedical Sciences from Roseman University of Health Sciences.
• Riley Ely, Prairieville, Louisiana, graduated from Millsaps College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
• Harper Faulkenberry, Ozark, Arkansas, graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Biomedical Option).
• Ben Floriani, Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
• Karigan Fox, Mount Pleasant, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Arkansas.
• Lucas French, Conway, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas.
• Grace Fruge, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Millsaps College.
• Ashleigh Gallagher, Metairie, Louisiana, earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of South Alabama.
• Melody Gharoonjenizeh, Modesto, California, earned a Bachelor of Science in Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology from California State University, Stanislaus.
• Nathan Grove, Bossier City, Louisiana, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana Tech University.
• Maryam Hayyawi, Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas.
• Kealey Heagney, Rockwall, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Arkansas.
• Mason Huie, Russellville, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Arkansas Tech University.
• Alexandra “Lexie” Jeffries, Leawood, Kansas, received a Bachelor of Public Health from the University of Kentucky.
• JaKerick Johnson, Monroe, Louisiana, earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
• Joseph Cade Judd, Gilmer, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in Medical Science from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
• Collin Kauitzsch, Fayetteville, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
• Forrest Kelly, Fountain Lake, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the New York Institute of Technology – Old Westbury.
• Bernard Kennetz, Bentonville, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Physics from the University of Arkansas.
• Haydon King, Conway, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
• Kaden King, Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Business Management from Baylor University.
• Nomikos Klonaris, Midvale, Utah, earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Miami.
• Abigail Lawrence, Ozark, Missouri, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from College of the Ozarks.
• Zachery Lawrence, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Natural and Applied Sciences from the University of Missouri.
• Anna Grace Ludwig, Farmerville, Louisiana, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Louisiana Tech University.
• Kennedy Martin, Springfield, Louisiana, earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University.
• Matthew Martin, Bethesda, Maryland, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mount Saint Mary’s University.
• Sarah Mays, Farmington, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from the University of Arkansas.
• Rian McFarlane, Ada, Oklahoma, has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Texas Tech University.
• Loni McKenzie, Wake Forest, North Carolina, earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Alabama.
• Grace Melton, Conway, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science from the University of Central Arkansas.
• Terry Miller, Fayetteville, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas.
• Ashley Nguyen-Johnson, Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Hendrix College.
• Allison Parham, Sherwood, Arkansas, has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas.
• Kaitlin Parker, Clayton, North Carolina, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• Irsha Patel, Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
• Jash Patel, Knoxville, Tennessee, has a Bachelor of Science in Food Science from the University of Tennessee.
• Catherine Pinter, Fayetteville, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from Winona State University and a Master of Science in Health Services Administration with a concentration in Clinical Care Management from Strayer University.
• Noah Pruitt, Sheridan, Arkansas, received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ouachita Baptist University.
• Ali Rahal, Dearborn, Michigan, earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Wayne State University.
• Megan Richman, Germantown, Tennessee, earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
• Jace Robbins, Hot Springs, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Arkansas.
• Zachary Ropka, Spanish Fork, Utah, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Brigham Young University.
• Alexa Ruder, Spring, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Arkansas.
• Michaela Salvati, Jackson, Mississippi, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Lafayette College.
• Luke Sheets, Monroe, North Carolina, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from Liberty University.
• Benjamin Sindelar, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• Tyler Skaddy, Lindon, Utah, received a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies from Utah Valley University.
• Emily Skinner, North Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
• Mingeun (Richard) Song, Mineola, New York, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Syracuse University.
• Adrian Soria, Round Rock, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Arkansas.
• Joseph Souliman, El Dorado Hills, California, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of the Pacific.
• Eric Tan, Katy, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University.
• Sarah Dame Thompson, Alabaster, Alabama, earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development with a concentration in Child Life from Louisiana Tech University.
• Matthew Truong, Arlington, Texas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Austin College.
• Juliana Wagner, New Freedom, Pennsylvania, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Spanish from Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania at Bloomsburg.
• Cody Walker, Greenbrier, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas.
• Ravdeep Warar, Shreveport, Louisiana, earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology with a minor in Gerontology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
• Russell Watson, Wichita, Kansas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Southern Virginia University.
• Merideth West, Little Rock, Arkansas, earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from Samford University.