DANB Announces New Chief Operating Officer
Phara Georges Rodrigue, M.A., has joined the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Rodrigue will oversee certification operation, client services, disciplinary actions and intellectual property, document review, and exam development.
Rodrigue brings more than two decades of experience leading certification and credentialing programs across mission-driven organizations. She is passionate about advancing professional standards through operational excellence, candidate-centered service, and strategic innovation. In her role, she will help shape DANB’s certification programs to meet the evolving needs of the oral healthcare workforce and ensure they remain a trusted benchmark of excellence in dental assisting.
“We are thrilled to welcome Phara to the team. Her exceptional experience and commitment to operational excellence will drive ongoing enhancements to DANB’s candidate and certificant experience,” says Laura Skarnulis, DANB’s Chief Executive Officer.
Most recently, Rodrigue served as Vice President of Certification at the Society of Defense Financial Management, where she led full-cycle credentialing operations spanning eligibility and exam development to recertification and compliance. She has also held senior roles at organizations such as the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Across these roles, she has guided cross-functional teams, ensured accreditation compliance for nationally recognized credentials, and introduced system and process improvements that elevated quality, equity, and user experience.
Rodrigue is an active contributor to the credentialing community and will present at the 2025 Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) Exchange, a conference for credentialing professionals. Beyond her professional leadership, Rodrigue is deeply engaged in community initiatives as a co-founder of the Haitian Ladies Network and a champion for disability inclusion and family advocacy in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She also serves as a Global Messenger Mentor with Special Olympics.
She earned a Master of Arts degree in international commerce and policy and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from George Mason University.