Alumni Awards

A native Nebraskan, Dr. Thomas Alexander attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. Following in the footsteps of his father (Thomas G. Fagot, DDS - Class of 1983) he was accepted into the UNMC College of Dentistry dental program attaining his doctorate degree in 2010. He elected to pursue additional training through the UNMC General Practitioner Residency program in Omaha. He remained on staff the following year part time at the Omaha VA Medical Center while simultaneously embarking on a career in private practice.

In 2012, Dr. Alexander and his wife (Jennifer (Jones) Alexander, DDS – Class of 2011) returned to his hometown of Lexington, NE to join his father in private practice full time. Dr. Alexander learned the value of community involvement and public service through his parents’ example. He has maintained this legacy helping to form the Nebraska New Dentist Council in 2015, serving as Chair of the Nebraska New Dentist Council in 2018, and continued to serve on the committee through 2020. For the past 7 years he has served both as Treasurer of the Nebraska Dental Association’s Southwest District as well as a Delegate for the NDA’s Southwest District. In addition to his local service, Dr. Alexander has served and is continuing to serve nationally, representing Nebraska as a state Delegate at the American Dental Association’s National Convention for 2 consecutive 3 year terms beginning in 2020 and concluding in 2025. He will be representing Nebraska as one of 3 state Delegates this October at the ADA Annual Session House of Delegates in New Orleans.

Within his community, Dr. Alexander serves on the Board of Directors for the Lexington Community Foundation, a public charity that addresses community needs and supports local nonprofits. Dr. Alexander and his wife’s private practice continues to host annual screenings and treatment planning for all local children participating in UNMC’s Children’s Dental Day. He and his practice are closely involved with the local schools, regularly hosting and mentoring high school students interested in the field of dentistry. Currently, 2 former shadowing students are in the UNMC RHOP program with commitments to return to rural Nebraska. Dr. Alexander remains passionate about the profession of dentistry and the community in which he serves.

Dr. Thomsen graduated from undergraduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1988 and from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College Of Dentistry in 1992. After dental school, he completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency through the United States Army. After completing his residency, he was assigned as the 2nd Brigade Dental Surgeon for the 1st Infantry Division. During his time in service, he had several opportunities for advanced training. He is a graduate of the Combat Casualty Care Course to include completing Advanced Trauma Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support courses. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne School. Dr. Thomsen thoroughly enjoyed his time in the military until returning to Omaha to join Thomsen Dental Group.

Dr. Thomsen has been very active in organized dentistry, holding leadership positions including President of the Omaha District Dental Society, Board of Trustees for the Nebraska Dental Association, and a member of the Council on Membership for the American Dental Association. He is currently the President of the Nebraska Dental Association. He holds his Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry, the American College of Dentists, and the International College of Dentists.  He was also co-chairman of the Nebraska Mission of Mercy held at Papillion –LaVista South High School 10-11 July 2009. This mission provided free dental care to 1,427 people, totaling $609,000 worth of donated dental services.

Dr. Thomsen enjoys private practice and feels continuing education is extremely important to staying current with the care for the nice people who choose to come to Thomsen Dental Group. Dr. Thomsen also maintains a very active lifestyle competing in athletic events with his family, cycling, canoeing, and adventure races like the Warrior Dash and Tough Mudder.

Dr. Paul Hansen graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry in 1975. Dr. Hansen took training in oral surgery and endodontics through the Air Force prior to long term training in prosthodontics. Dr. Hansen completed a three-year program in prosthodontics through the Air Force at Wilford Hall Medical Center and the University of Texas – San Antonio College of Dentistry finishing in 1984. He became board certified in prosthodontics in 1986.

Dr. Hansen has been married to Joyce Backstrom Hansen for 50 years, they have three children, and six grandchildren. Joyce has been a great support following Paul around the world and raising the children. Joyce is a 1974 graduate of the University of Nebraska.

Dr. Hansen completed a 20-year career in the United States Air Force, retiring from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in 1996. He directed the graduate prosthodontics program at the University of Missouri – Kansas City from 1996-2000. He began a private practice in conjunction with the University of Kansas Hospital in 2000 and retired from this practice in 2007. Dr. Hansen returned home to the University of Nebraska in 2007 to become the director of the prosthodontics section, and dental implants at the Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. He retired as a full professor from Nebraska in 2018, then returned to teach the course in removable partial prosthodontics at Nebraska in 2023.

Dr. Hansen has multiple teaching awards, elected as the most influential teacher for the dental classes of 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2018 at the University of Nebraska. He was awarded the Judson Hickey Writing Award by the Editors of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry for his published article on provisional restorations. He has authored over 25 articles in peer reviewed journals. He has lectured on fixed prosthodontics, occlusion and maxillofacial prosthodontics throughout the world.

Since retiring Dr. Hansen has pursued his passion for weightlifting. He has three National Championships in Powerlifting, two world championships in Powerlifting and one National Championships in Weightlifting. Joyce won the National championships in weightlifting in 2022.

Jessica Meeske is a pediatric dentist in Hastings and Grand Island, NE. She is the senior partner of Pediatric Dental Specialists of Greater Nebraska. Dr. Meeske is a graduate of Hastings College and the University of Missouri-K.C. College of Dentistry. She completed further training in pediatric dentistry and public health at the University of Iowa, College of Dentistry. Dr. Meeske is board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Meeske is past vice chair of the ADA’s Medicaid Reform Task Force and the Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention. She is the president of the Nebraska Dental Association where she has helped to pass more than 17 bills in the Legislature related to access to dental care. She has served in numerous leadership roles with American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry including past trustee and councils of membership, dental benefits, and government affairs. Dr. Meeske is on the UNMC Chancellor’s Board of Advisors and is part-time faculty at UNMC College of Dentistry where she teaches dental students and residents in pediatric dentistry. She provided testimony to the U.S. House Subcommittee on RAC Audits and Aging for the ADA. Furthermore, she was invited to the White House for the signing of the Affordable Care Act by President Obama.

Dr. Meeske’s awards include the AAPD’s Pediatric Dentist of the Year, NDA’s 2003 New Dentist of the Year, the ADA’s 2002 Golden Apple New Dentist of the Year, the Nebraska Rural Health Association’s 2002 Health Care Provider of the Year, the University of Missouri, School of Dentistry’s 2003 Young Alumnus of the year. Her colleagues have elected her into the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. Dr. Meeske was selected by the UNMC’s Chancellor to receive the Jack G. Elliot Award for Outstanding Service in Health Care to Nebraskans and in 2010 was awarded the Edward Shils Award, a national dental public service award.

Dr. Meeske is active in the Hastings Community through her involvement as a past president of Hastings Public Schools School Board and on the Board of Trustees at Hastings College. She and her husband, Todd Pankratz, have two grown children.

2023
Alumni Achievement: Paula L. Harre, DDS '82, MS '95
Distinguished Service: Kenneth R. Tusha, DDS '92
Outstanding Educator: Amy C. Killeen, DDS '06, MS '10
Honorary Life Membership: Rowen K. Zetterman, MD

2022
Alumni Achievement: Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS '72, PhD '87
Distinguished Service: John Reinhardt, DDS, MS, MPH
Outstanding Educator: James F. Jenkins, DDS '84
Honorary Life Membership: Sreenivas Koka, DDS, PhD '99

2021
Alumni Achievement: Byron Tullis, DDS '58
Distinguished Service: Janet Guthmiller, DDS, PhD
Outstanding Educator: Robin Hattervig, DDS '84
Honorary Life Membership: Joan Sivers, DDS

2020
Alumni Achievement: Charles Genrich, DDS ‘83 & Jon C. Asbjörnson, DDS ‘87
Distinguished Service: David G. Brown, BSc, MLS, PhD
Outstanding Educator: Darlene Carritt, RDH '78
Honorary Life Membership: Nebraska Innovation Campus Hand Sanitizer Team

2019
Alumni Achievement: Eugene E. Keller, DDS, MS
Distinguished Service: Charles "Fritz" Craft, DDS
Outstanding Educator: Henry A. St. Germain, Jr., DMD, MSD, MAEd
Honorary Life Membership: Jennifer K. Kallio, DDS

2018
Alumni Achievement: Chris Nix, DDS
Distinguished Service: Wayne B. Kaldahl, DDS
Outstanding Educator: William W. Johnson, DDS, MS
Honorary Life Membership: David H. Shaw, PhD

2017
Alumni Achievement: Scott L. Morrison, DDS, MS
Distinguished Service: Roger E. Jurgens, DDS, MS
Outstanding Educator: Larry D. Crouch, PhD
Honorary Life Membership: Jillian A. Wallen, BDS, MS

2016
Alumni Achievement: Gwen L. Hlava, RDH, MS
Distinguished Service: Merlyn W. Vogt, DDS
Outstanding Educator: Julie A. Marshall, DDS
Honorary Life Membership: Janet M. Guthmiller, DDS, PhD

2015
Alumni Achievement: Darold D. Opp, DDS
Distinguished Service: Kenneth L. Kalkwarf, DDS
Outstanding Educator: Michael Houk, DDS
Honorary Life Membership: Jeffrey B. Payne, DDS, MDentSc

2014
Alumni Achievement: Wayne W. Barkmeier, DDS, MS
Distinguished Service: Richard J. Schilling, DDS
Outstanding Educator: Myron L. Pudwill, DDS, MS
Honorary Life Membership: Henry A. St. Germain, Jr., DMD, MSD, MEd

2013
Alumni Achievement: David Neumeister, DDS
Distinguished Service: Paul Swanson, DDS
Outstanding Educator: Eric Fung, PhD
Honorary Life Membership: John W. Reinhardt, DDS