$250,000 Gift Names RCC Dental Program in Honor of Dr. Michael J. Knowles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 25, 2026

LUMBERTON, N.C. — Robeson Community College celebrated a transformational investment in dental education Friday as the individual partners of Village Family Dental presented at $250,000 gift in honor of the late Dr. Michael John Knowles, officially naming the college’s program the Michael J. Knowles Dental Training Program.

The gift was made by Dr. Bradley Ryan, Dr. Anuj James, Dr. Mit Patel, Dr. Grant Wiles and Dr. Jordan Olsen, partners of Village Family Dental, to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Knowles while investing in the education of future dental professionals.

More than 60 people attended the naming celebration, including members of the Knowles family, the partners of Village Family Dental, the Robeson Community College Board of Trustee and Foundation Board, faculty, staff, community members and, most importantly, students in RCC’s inaugural Dental Assisting program.

“This gift is more than an investment in a program. It is an investment in our students, in workforce development, and ultimately, in the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” said Faline Dial, Chair of the Robeson Community College Board of Trustees. “We are deeply honored to carry Dr. Knowles’ name forward through the Michael J. Knowles Dental Training Program, and we will strive to ensure that the work done here reflects the spirit of excellence, compassion, and service that defined his life.”

Dr. Knowles founded Village Family Dental in 1985 and grew the practice from a single location into a network of twelve offices and three dental ambulatory centers serving families throughout North Carolina. Remembered as a visionary entrepreneur, mentor, humanitarian, father and friend, Knowles dedicated his career to expanding access to quality dental care and creating opportunities for others. His service also extended internationally through mission trips to Nicaragua, where he provided dental care to individuals with limited access to treatment.

For Ryan, James, Patel, Wiles and Olsen, the gift is both a tribute to the man whose vision established Village Family Dental and an investment in the future of the profession he devoted his life to serving.

“We are proud to make this endowment in honor of Dr. Michael Knowles,” said Dr. Anuj James, speaking on behalf of the partners. “He was an incredible entrepreneur and was ahead of his time, but he was an even greater mentor and friend.”

Knowles’ daughter, Nicole Knowles Stevens, shared a personal reflection on her father and the values that shaped both his life and Village Family Dental. She recalled that her father always understood the importance of education and what it could do for someone.

Stevens also shared the story behind the Village Family Dental name. As her parents considered what to call the practice, the familiar saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” resonated with them. Her father understood the importance of community and the role it would play in the legacy he hoped to build.

“He knew what community meant and how important it was for his legacy,” Stevens said.

The relationship between Village Family Dental and RCC extends beyond the financial gift made by its five partners. Village Family Dental has invested significant time and professional expertise in helping RCC develop its Dental Assisting program, including its laboratories and classroom spaces, and has provided clinical and classroom opportunities that allow students to gain valuable hands-on experience.

RCC President Dr. Melissa Singler expressed the college’s gratitude for both the generosity of the individual partners and the continued support provided through Village Family Dental.

“There is simply no way to place a monetary value on the time, expertise, and commitment they have invested and continue to invest in our students and this program,” Singler said. “This partnership will help carry Dr. Knowles’ legacy forward through the students who train here and go on to serve patients throughout our region.”

The impact of that investment is already being felt by the 10 students in RCC’s inaugural Dental Assisting cohort. The gift from Ryan, James, Patel, Wiles and Olsen, together with the clinical support and expertise provided through Village Family Dental, will help prepare students to enter the dental profession with the skills, experience and confidence needed to serve their communities.

Through the Michael J. Knowles Dental Training Program, future generations of dental professionals will begin their careers in a program bearing the name of a man whose life was defined by dentistry, service, mentorship and community.

For the Knowles family and those who worked alongside him, the naming ensures that his influence will continue through every student educated, every dental professional prepared and, ultimately, every patient served.

For more information about Robeson Community College’s Dental Assisting Program visit Dental Assisting Robeson Community College.

For media inquiries, please contact Courtney Jacobs, Executive Director of Governance and Marketing, at 910-272-3231 or cjacobs@robeson.edu.