Larry Wolff, MS, PhD, DDS ’78, professor of periodontology, has been part of the University of Minnesota for over four decades–and he’s spent that time supporting learners from their first day to the day they walk across the stage at graduation.

Emily Vu, BSDH ’24, is passionate about dental hygiene and excited to graduate and make a difference in the oral health field. She’s also a proud Asian-American student. In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we spoke with Vu about her decision to pursue dental hygiene and what it means to her to be an Asian-American student and clinician. 

What do you want to be when you grow up? It is a big question that we have all encountered  countless times throughout our childhood and adolescence. Some seem to have an answer to this  question right away. For many others, answering this question is a daunting and impossible task.