Kris Pladson, CDA, RDH, MS is a consultant and dental program advisor at Dakota College- Minot. She is currently assisting in the development of an accredited dental assisting and dental hygiene program for their new Career and Technical Education Center in Minot, ND. She will serve as the interim dental program advisor until program faculty are hired.

Kris began her career in the dental field when she graduated with a diploma in Dental Assisting in 1977 and was employed as a chairside dental assistant. She continued her dental education completing a Dental Hygiene AAS degree from NDSCS in 1984 and was employed as a clinical dental hygienist.  In 1996, she was employed by M State Moorhead dental programs as a dental educator, during which time she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Vocational Technical Education and Community Health from Valley City State University in 2002 and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Minnesota State University Moorhead, MN in 2010. In 2014, she was promoted to Director of Dental Programs at M State where she served until her retirement in May 2021.

As the program director, Kris was responsible for teaching, maintaining and improving standards for student program completion, and helping promote their success at passing State, National and Regional Board exams, and working with college administrators. In addition, she was responsible for overseeing curriculum, technology updates, and ensuring the program faculty were well qualified. Kris was very active in collaborating with State and National dental educators’ groups and coordinating with dental professionals to provide Continuing Education Courses for those already working in the field.

Her passion is promoting allied dental careers so graduates have an opportunity for successful and rewarding careers and to fulfill the vast need for these professionals in North Dakota.