From the Community: Why this Nominee Stands Out

“Megan Erickson, Campus Recruiter at Heartland Dental, is a true innovator in early career recruiting. She has challenged the traditional recruiting playbook by going beyond surface-level engagement and developing genuine connections with dental hygiene students. Through creative programming, immersive events, and strong faculty collaboration, she’s redefined what it means to recruit the next generation of dental professionals.

Megan goes beyond simply navigating gatekeepers, she’s built lasting partnerships with dental hygiene programs and created value-added experiences for students. One standout example is HygieneBLAZE, a laser certification course for hygiene students and faculty that Megan helped plan, program, and execute. Her attention to detail and commitment to the success of this event led to a 100% pass rate for all participants in the most recent cohort which is a direct reflection of her dedication to excellence.

Beyond HygieneBLAZE, Megan leads impactful student engagement efforts like Lunch & Learns, classroom presentations, and on-campus relationship-building to demystify corporate dentistry and position Heartland Dental as a top career destination for Gen Z candidates. Her ability to blend employer branding with real educational value makes her a trailblazer in this space.”