University of the Pacific alumna Diana Fat ’99 is bringing decades of experience from the dental industry to the university’s Board of Regents as its newest member.

Fat, a prosthodontist and owner of a private dental practice in Sacramento, began her three-year term July 1. The Board of Regents is composed of leaders across industries who volunteer their time to serve as the governing board for the university, overseeing its mission and finances.

“Diana has long exemplified the values that define Pacific,” said Leticia Robles, chair of the Board of Regents. “Her passion for service, leadership and collaborative spirit will make her an outstanding addition to the Board of Regents as we continue shaping an exceptional student experience and building a stronger future for the university.” 

President Christopher Callahan expressed his appreciation for her service.

“We are pleased to welcome Diana to the Board of Regents,” the president said. “Her experience, judgment and dedication to Pacific will strengthen the board as we continue creating new opportunities for our students and pursuing our vision for the university’s future.”

Growing up in her father’s dental office, Fat learned early on that dentistry is about more than treating teeth—it’s about building relationships.

Her father, Kenneth “Ken” Fat, has been a longtime friend and supporter of Pacific. Recruited by the late Arthur A. Dugoni in the early 1980s, Ken Fat served for decades as a fundraising volunteer for the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, introducing his daughter to the school’s values long before she became a student.

“I grew up in a dental office,” Fat said. “My dad would take me with him on Saturdays, and I loved watching him interact with patients.”

That early exposure led Fat to work at the Dugoni School’s Orofacial Pain Clinic after earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California in 1993. Experiencing the school’s humanistic philosophy firsthand inspired her to apply to Pacific’s Doctor of Dental Surgery program.

After being accepted to the Dugoni School, Fat discovered a passion for prosthodontics while completing her dental degree, which she earned in 1999.

“I really enjoyed the artistic, creative side of dentistry,” she said in an article. “Prosthodontics combines that creativity with problem-solving for complex cases—it’s like putting together a puzzle.”

She went on to complete a certificate in prosthodontics at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in 2004, followed by an additional year of advanced training in implant dentistry and esthetics.

After completing her residency, Fat returned to Sacramento in 2006 to join an established Midtown practice with fellow Dugoni School alumnus Jeff Vernon ’77.

“He was a great mentor for me,” Fat said.

Today, Fat specializes in aesthetic and restorative dentistry, treating patients with everything from full-mouth rehabilitations to complex implant cases. A 2017 renovation transformed her practice into a state-of-the-art facility designed to support advanced restorative care.

Beyond her clinical practice, Fat remains committed to advancing the profession through organized dentistry. She serves on the board of the Sacramento District Dental Society and is a member of the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association.

“By sharing knowledge, supporting innovation and learning from one another, we continually elevate how we deliver care,” she said.

In recognition of her professional achievements, leadership and service to the profession and her community, Fat was inducted into the International College of Dentists during the organization's 2024 annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.