This award recognizes a dental hygiene graduate of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) who represents the integrity, intellectual curiosity, community-mindedness, and leadership epitomized by DeVore. The 2022 award recognizes Oksana P. Mishler, RDH’09, MS’12, DHSc, a clinical assistant professor in UMSOD’s Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics.  

Mishler earned a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, focusing on education, from UMSOD in 2009. In 2012, she completed a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and, in 2019, a Doctor of Health Sciences from A.T. Still University. 

A recipient of many honors, Mishler received UMSOD’s  2009 Leadership Award, which recognizes leadership in the dental hygiene program; the Teacher’s Development Scholarship from 2009-to 2010; and the UMB President’s Fellowship from 2012-to 2013. She additionally was named Teacher of the Year by the dental hygiene Class of 2013 and was selected as the recipient of the Frank J. Sinnreich Award for Excellence in Teaching by the dental Class of 2019. Already a member of the Dental Hygiene Honor Society, Mishler was inducted into the National Dental Honor Society as an honorary member in 2018 and serves as secretary-treasurer of the Maryland chapter.   

 Mishler has served on the UMB Faculty Senate in various leadership capacities and contributed to many campus-wide projects and initiatives through UMB committee service. She leads and contributes to numerous research initiatives, including interprofessional educational and community-based research projects with faculty at other UMB institutions. Under her leadership and guidance, a dental hygiene student research project won second place at the Maryland Dental Hygienists’ Association Spring 2022 research competition.   

Mishler additionally provides patient care in the Postgraduate Periodontics clinic and directs a dental hygiene maintenance program that simulates a private practice experience for students and residents. She is an accomplished artist; her work has been published in 1807: An Art and Literary Journal, which is published by UMB’s Council for the Arts & Culture.