After considering the Appointment Committee’s recommendations, Council reappointed Chelsey Dudley and Kaitlyn Johnston to fill the two available regulated member positions on Council for the 2025-28 term.
Chelsey Dudley
When Chelsey was 12 years old, she wore her first set of braces and her love for the dental industry was born. In 2001 she graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Dental Assisting Program and has worked as a dental assistant ever since. She has spent time in all areas of the dental field, including orthodontics. She is currently an instructor for the SAIT Dental Assisting program and has obtained a Provincial Instructor Diploma.
Through SAIT, Chelsey has been able to collaborate with The Alex, volunteer for the Smiles Dental Clinic and host an oral hygiene information session for the PREP program. Organizing practicum placements for students allows her to connect with many Alberta dental practices. She has experienced the unique and diverse culture of each office while on practicum site visits.
When not at work, Chelsey spends her free time with her husband, two teenage daughters and son. She also loves to bake whenever possible, including cakes she decorates for friends and family.
Kaitlyn Johnston
Although Kaitlyn is relatively new to the dental assisting profession, she brings several years of experience from another regulated field. During her time working as a Registered Veterinary Health Technician, she discovered a strong interest in dentistry and oral health. This passion led her to transition into the dental industry after graduating from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s Dental Assisting Program in 2019.
Kaitlyn currently works as a safety manager outside the dental field; however, she continues to stay connected to the profession by taking on temporary dental positions, either at the front desk or as a clinical assistant. She is an enthusiastic learner who seeks out opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills. Her current clinical experience and awareness of emerging trends in dental equipment and procedures align well with the expertise Council aims to maintain within the team.
Beyond her clinical experience, Kaitlyn has participated in and led various committees throughout both her academic and professional careers. She is adept at reading, interpreting, and applying legislation and is a strong communicator in both written and verbal formats.
Outside of work, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with friends and staying active through running and boxing classes.
Merit-Based Appointments
In September, our Registrar & CEO invited Dental Assistants to apply for the two positions available on Council for the 2025-28 term. The call for applications included specific attributes and experiences that would benefit the Council team. We received five applications and followed our merit-based appointment process.
The Registrar & CEO:
- assessed the applicants to ensure they met eligibility criteria
- removed identifying information from the four applications that met the criteria
- provided the anonymized applications to the Appointment Committee
The Appointment Committee included one Public Member of Council, one Regulated Member of Council, and one Regulated Member at large. They:
- considered the needs identified for a well-rounded Council team
- reviewed and used a rubric to rate the anonymous applications
- from the anonymous applications, selected applicants to interview and conducted the interviews
- recommended two applicants to Council
The Appointment Committee provided Council with a brief analysis of why they did or didn’t recommend each applicant. Council considered the Appointment Committee’s analysis and recommendations and decided to reappoint Chelsey Dudley for a two-year term and Kaitlyn Johnston for a three-year term.
Regulated members are typically appointed to Council for three-year terms. Since Chelsey Dudley has already served four years, Council adjusted her appointment to two years to stay within the six-year maximum defined in our Bylaws.