Kerri H. Friel

Bio

Kerri H. Friel is a Professor in the Dental Health Department at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), where she serves as the Director of the Dental Assisting Program, Vice President of the CCRI Faculty Association, and Immediate Past President of the Faculty Senate.

She is a proud alumna of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned both her Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene and her Master’s degree in Adult Education. Kerri has been a licensed dental hygienist for more than three decades, a Certified Dental Assistant since 2002, and a Certified Orthodontic Assistant since 2000. She also holds permits to administer both local anesthesia and nitrous oxide and previously earned Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification. Prior to her full-time faculty appointment in 2000, she practiced in Rhode Island dental offices specializing in general dentistry and orthodontics. She remains an active member of the Rhode Island Dental Assistants Association.

Kerri was elected to the Board of Directors for the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) on September 1, 2023, and is currently serving the first year of her three-year term. She was also appointed by Governor Lincoln Chafee to the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry in 2013, where she served two consecutive three-year terms.

Additionally, Kerri is an active member of CDCA-WREB-CITA, where she serves as a Dental Hygiene Examiner, Dental Hygiene Chief, Exam Technical Coordinator, Grading Team Lead, and Exam Technical Administrator for Dental Exams. She is a member of the Rhode Island Oral Health Commission and serves on the Board of Directors for Dental Lifeline Network – Rhode Island. Outside of work, she has been a dedicated volunteer with the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy since 2012, where she leads radiology operations.

Areas of Expertise

Dental and Oral Radiology

Awards & Honors

2020: NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award
2012: Kenneth F. McGunagle Volunteer of the Year Award - ALS RI