Faculty Profile: Cherae Farmer-Dixon

Dr. Cherae Farmer-Dixon has overcome barriers in race, gender and academia, becoming the third woman to head the School of Dentistry at Meharry Medical College.  She remains one of a few select women to lead in the role as Dean of a superior dental program that produces 40 percent of the nation’s currently practicing African American dentists.

Dean Farmer Dixon has selflessly served in the dental school for twenty-nine (29) years. Prior to assuming the role of dean, Dr. Farmer-Dixon was the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at Meharry in the School of Dentistry. She sets the bar high for her students and faculty in the program and always works overtime to help them in achieving their goals with excellence. Dr. Farmer-Dixon also proudly serves her country as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve.

The Dean is also an academic scholar who immerses herself in published research activities dealing with oral health disparities, caries in low-income children, community outreach and intervention, and she works tirelessly to address disparities within minority dental school enrollment. 

She serves on numerous councils, has received a myriad of awards from students as well as local, state, and national professional memberships in several organizations. Most recently, she was selected to assist and lead a team of volunteers at the COVID-19 testing site at Meharry. Her stellar performance led to Meharry acquiring two other testing sites in the greater Nashville area.  The Dean is also recognized by the Nashville Business Journal as one of the 2019 Women of Influence.  She is a distinguished 2019 alumna of the Nashville Healthcare Council of Fellows.

Dr. Farmer-Dixon is a native of Indianola, Mississippi.  She is recognized as an outstanding graduate of the 1986 class of Mississippi Valley State University.  She has also received the following degrees and certifications: Meharry Medical College Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree, 1990, and the School of Graduate Studies and Research Masters of Science in Public Health degree (M.S.P.H.), 1994; Tennessee State University Executive Masters of Business Administration (EXMBA, 2019; the Institute of Educational Management Program Certificate from Harvard University, 2017; and Boston University’s Public Health Residency Certificate, 2014.  Dr. Farmer-Dixon is a 2018 fellow of the International College of Dentists, a 2014 fellow of the American College of Dentists, a 2000 alumnae of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program (ELAM) and a member of the American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute 2003-2004 class.