Mosley leaves legacy of ambition, love for humanity and dentistry

“I aspire to inspire,” Dr. Markus Mosley once said, well before achieving his dream of earning a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in May 2025 from the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine.

And inspire he did.

Mosley, president of the dental school’s Class of 2025 and a 2019 ECU graduate in biology and entrepreneurship, was a dynamic and vibrant leader in the classroom, clinic, community and the many activities and causes he championed.

Mosley, 29, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, Nov. 1.

During his time at ECU, Mosley, was a leader and member of a wide variety of student organizations, including the university’s track and field team. As a dental student, he was active in groups that served patients and communities.

“My biggest goal is to create a legacy,” he told ECU News in 2019, “whether that be at ECU, through dentistry or through philanthropy.”

Mosley was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Garner, North Carolina. He was the son of Lisa and Jemel Bryant and Theotric and Martina White.

Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the ECU School of Dental Medicine, spoke to Mosley’s unique vibrance with which he approached life, dental school and relationships — motivating others to be the best version of themselves.

“It is rare that someone has already cemented a legacy when they graduate from dental school. Markus was probably the most genuinely outgoing person I think I’ve ever known. He lived his life in a way that not only touched those around him but left a lasting impression,” Chadwick said. “Every encounter started with an enthusiastic greeting that brightened your day — and left you smiling. Markus’s passing leaves a huge void in our dental school family, but his genuine love of life, community and making a difference will live on among his many friends, family and colleagues.”

‘Bring happiness and smiles’

Perhaps Mosley’s deft ability to ignite excitement in those around him came from the consistent gratitude he voiced on the path toward his dreams. He would inevitably pause the journey before and after each major milestone — to recognize and thank those who inspired and supported him along the way.

“Nothing keeps motivation aflame more than hard work and the resulting fulfillment,” Mosley said when he received his white coat in 2023. “Having the opportunity to wear this white coat is truly the reflection of the many mentors, loved ones and sacrifices that have guided me.”

Between earning his ECU degrees, he attended Barry University, where he completed a master’s degree in biomedical sciences in 2021 and then chose to return to ECU for dental school. At the time of his passing, Mosley was in The Ohio State University’s General Practice Residency (GPR) program with dreams of becoming an orthodontist.

As an undergraduate, Mosley served as an ECU Ambassador and worked with Tarrick Cox, then in the university’s Admissions office. Their paths crossed again when Cox became director of admissions at the dental school.

“Markus never gave up on anything he started,” Cox said. “He believed in himself and others that he trusted. Markus was a friend and brother whom I will miss dearly.”

When he began dental school, Mosley joined two of his best friends and fellow ECU dental school graduates, Dr. Christian Penister ’23, PED ’25 and Dr. Geremy Medlock ’23.

Penister considered Mosley his best friend after knowing him for 11 years.

“I’m going to carry his spirit and the light he had and the mindset that it’s important to love others more than anything in this world,” Penister said.

“Markus changed what it looked like to be a dentist and a human being,” Penister said. “He felt like it was important to bring other brothers who look like us into the profession. He opened doors for people who looked like him and who didn’t look like him and always, always, always made sure the person in front of him was taken care of.”

Medlock’s last conversation with Mosley centered on a patient case Mosley was handling during his residency; he wanted to get Medlock’s opinion on the care plan he had created.

“His own words said it best: ‘My purpose is to bring happiness and smiles to hundreds of people,’ and that was the way he lived every single day,” Medlock said. “Markus had this rare gift of making people see the best in themselves, even when they couldn’t see it on their own.”

During dental school, Mosley served in groups including the Dental Student Government, the American Student Dental Association and the Humanistic Environment Committee. He was also an avid researcher during his time in dental school, earning the 2024 American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Award during the school’s annual Celebration of Research and Scholarship. He was also funded to represent ECU at the 2025 International and American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Annual Meeting in New York.

Mosley also provided care for patients during many of the School of Dental Medicine’s events for special populations and at the Hyde County Outreach Clinic in Swan Quarter during his fourth year. He represented ECU on the North Carolina Dental Society’s Board of Trustees and House of Delegates, receiving the 2025 North Carolina Dental Society Student Leader in Organized Dentistry Award.

A student’s impact

Mosley’s sense of family was born early on within his own family, including his four siblings. He carried a reverence for that concept that lent to his relationships with classmates and friends — who became family.

“He was deeply rooted in family — not just his own — but in the sense of community he built everywhere he went,” Medlock said. “Markus created space for people to feel seen and valued. His success never separated him from others; it drew people closer because it came from such a genuine, giving place.”

Dr. Erika Stevens ’25 said that concept of community lent to an uncommonly close-knit class.

“You couldn’t mention the class of 2025 without mentioning Markus Mosley,” she said, “because in so many ways, he was its heart and soul. Because of him, the class of 2025 wasn’t just a bunch of students from all over North Carolina. We were a family.”

As graduation from dental school approached, Mosley and his classmates had the opportunity to honor faculty and staff who had a particularly resonant impact on their journeys. Mosley selected Janet Brooks, registrar and director of academic success, for the honor.

“In a career that deals daily with students, some simply shine bright and are a rare light. Markus was one of those students for me and for so many others within the dental school community,” Brooks said. “What I hope Markus knew is how deeply he impacted me, too through his kindness, humility, zest for life and unwavering positive spirit, I too learned from him.”

Mosley selected Dr. Paul Lindauer, dental school professor emeritus, as his most influential faculty member.

“He was a bright, intelligent young man with a charismatic outgoing personality who displayed a solid commitment to organized dentistry and the profession,” Lindauer said. “He had a very bright future ahead of him, during which he would have made such a positive and meaningful difference.”

Each dental student writes a personal statement at the beginning of his or her dental school experience; their own words are later shared with them as they officially join the profession.

In his statement, Mosley honored his grandfather, James Henry Mosley, as the most influential person in his life for instilling a sense of gratitude, responsibility and perseverance.

“Pursuing a career in dentistry not only allows me to honor his words, but to wake up every day and bring positive change to the lives of my patients,” he wrote. “Witnessing patients rejoice as soon as they got out of the chair melted my heart and emphasized the dire necessity for dentists in health profession shortage areas.”

A legacy to behold

By all accounts, Mosley longed to leave a lasting legacy — once he had achieved all he had hoped to in life.

And by all testaments, that dream has already come true. In Ross Hall, in the professional community and across the state in the school’s community service learning centers where he completed rotations during his fourth year, Mosley’s presence will linger.

Dr. Margaret Wilson, vice dean of the dental school, said that legacy is unique in itself as it spans every facet of life.

“Markus radiated kindness and joy and had a way of making every person he encountered feel special. He brought out the best in each of us, through his ability to connect with people in genuine and meaningful ways,” she said. “Everyone — from patients to classmates, from faculty and staff members to colleagues — has at least one poignant Markus story that they will treasure. Markus’s legacy of embracing a love for life and all those he met on his journey will live on in all of us.”

That impermeable joy will also carry forth in friends, family and colleagues.

“Because of Markus, I’ve learned that mindset is everything,” Stevens said, “that choosing light, even in dark times, can change not just your day, but your entire outlook on life.”

Medlock said he will carry his friend’s mission and spirit as he continues to care for patients and make a difference through dentistry.

“His dream doesn’t end with his life,” Medlock said. “It continues through the way we choose to lead, love and serve each day.”

Contributions in memory of Dr. Mosley may be sent as checks payable to ECU Health Foundation. Please add “Markus Mosley Memorial Scholarship Fund” on the memo line and mail to ECU Health Foundation, PO Box 8489, Greenville, NC 27835-8489 or you can make a gift online at https://give.ecu.edu/MarkusMosley.