Meet Your Academic Leaders: The U.S. Optometry Dean Directory

Behind every future optometrist is a team of educators and leaders shaping their journey. As we head into the 2026-2027 academic year, this “dean directory” highlights the leadership teams — including but not limited to presidents, deans, associate/assistant deans and directors — at optometry schools in the U.S.

University of Alabama Birmingham School of Optometry Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO, Dean Kristine B. Hopkins, OD, MSPH, FAAO, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Gerald Simon, OD, Associate Dean of Student Affairs Elizabeth A. Steele, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Timothy W. Kraft, PhD, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies

Arizona College of Optometry, Midwestern University Alicia Feis, OD, FAAO, Dean Joshua Baker, OD, MS, President and CEO Kaila Dougherty, OD, FAAO, Vice President, Clinic Operations Caitlin Miller, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Laura Addy, OD, FAAO, Director of Residencies

Arizona College of Optometry is currently searching for an Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Apply here.

Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University Julie A. Schornack, OD, MEd, President, Marshall B. Ketchum University Eric Borsting, OD, MSEd, FAAO, FCOVD, Dean, Southern California College of Optometry Raymond Chu, OD, MS, FAAO, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs John Nishimoto, OD, MBA, FAAO, Senior Associate Dean of Professional Affairs Susan Cotter, OD, MS, FAAO, Associate Dean of Research Mark E. Nakano, OD, Associate Dean of Clinics Melissa Contreras, OD, MPH, Associate Vice President for the IDEA Center William Ridder III, OD, PhD, Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies Judy W. H. Tong, OD, FAAO, Assistant Dean of Residencies

University of California – Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science Sharon A. Bentley, BScOptom, MOptom, PhD, MPH, FAAO, FACO (DipLV), Dean Anne Mika Moy, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs Nancy McNamara, OD, PhD, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Christina Wilmer, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Clinical Initiatives Lillian Wang, OD, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Ruth Shoge, OD, MPH, FAAO, Chief Diversity Officer Angelica Gonzalez, Assistant Dean of Clinical Operations Mike Hoffshire, PhD, Assistant Dean of Admissions & Student Affairs Ciel Mahoney, Assistant Dean of Development & Alumni Relations Monica Porter, Senior Assistant Dean of Operations

Western University College of Optometry Elizabeth Hoppe, OD, MPH, DrPH, Founding Dean Ida Chung, OD, MSHE, FCOVD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Raymond Maeda, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Loretta Ng, OD, FAAO, Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs Angela P. Hegain, PhD, MSPH, Assistant Dean of Academic Support

Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry Linda S. Rouse, OD, MBA, FAAO, Dean Rachel “Stacey” Coulter, OD, MS, FAAO, FCOVD, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Cristina Law, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dipl-ABO, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Zoeanne Schinas, OD, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Bin Zhang, MD, PhD, Assistant Dean of Research

Chicago College of Optometry, Midwestern University Joshua Baker, OD, MS, President and CEO Kaila Dougherty, OD, FAAO, Vice President, Clinic Operations Brianne N. Hobbs, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dean Jenelle Mallios, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Samantha Rice, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Illinois College of Optometry Mark Colip, OD, President Stephanie Messner, OD, FAAO, Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Messner is retiring in 2027. Read her WO story here. Leonard Messner, OD, FAAO, Vice President for Strategy and Institutional Advancement Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, FAAO, Dean of Student Affairs Andria Pihos, OD, FAAO, Assistant Dean of IEI Patient Care Education Jaymeni Patel, OD, FAAO, Assistant Dean for Community Based Education and International Programs   Yi Pang, OD, PhD, FAAO, Associate Dean for Research Geoffrey Goodfellow, OD, FAAO, Assistant Dean for Academic Assessment and Records Elyse L. Chaglasian, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean for Faculty

Indiana University School of Optometry Rowan Candy, PhD, BSc, MCOptom, Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Steven A. Burns, PhD, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs Jane Ann Grogg, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean for Students Pete Kollbaum, OD, MS, PhD, Associate Dean for Research Todd Peabody, OD, MBA, Associate Dean for Advancement

University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry Renee Reeder, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FSLS, FIACLE, Dean Jesson Martin, OD, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Rachel Fitzgerald, OD, FAAO, Director of Community Affairs Eilene Eugenio Kinzer, OD, MEd, VFL, FAAO, Director of Residencies and Continuing Education Benjamin Konig, OD, Director of International Affairs

New England College of Optometry Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, President and CEO Erik Weissberg, OD, FAAO, Vice President, Dean of Academic Affairs Gary Chu, OD, MPH, FAAO, Vice President, Professional Affairs Nicole Quinn, OD, FAAO, Director of Residencies Fuensanta A. Vera-Diaz, OD, PhD, FAAO, Director of Research Diane Russo, OD, MPH, MBA, FAAO, Assistant Director of Residencies Timothy Bossie, OD, FAAO, Senior Director of Owned Clinics and Outreach Affiliations Amy Moy, OD, FAAO, Senior Director of Health Center Initiatives and Optometric Compliance Traci Logan, MS, Executive Vice President and COO

Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University Daniel A. Taylor, OD, EdD, MS, MBA, FAAO, Dean Jennifer Schad, OD, MPH, FAAO, Assistant Dean of Clinical Education

University of Detroit Mercy School of Optometry First class started fall 2025 Sulman Hans, OD, MS, FAAO, Dipl. ABO, Founding Dean Read about the new school here. Naureen Haroon, OD, MPH, FAAO, Assistant Dean of Academic Administration Robert Onofre, OD, MHA, Assistant Dean of Clinical Administration Pablo De Gracia, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dipl. AAO, Director of Research Amy Furguson, OD, MS, Director of Student Success and Achievement

University of Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry Keshia Elder, OD, MS, FAAO, Dean Read Dr. Elder’s story on inclusivity and representation here. Ashley N. Tary, OD, Interim Associate Dean of Clinical Operations, Director of Continuing Education Angel Novel Simmons, OD, Associate Dean of Student Services and Alumni Relations Julie Ott DeKinder, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Director of Residency Programs

State University of New York College of Optometry David Troilo, PhD, President Melissa Trego, OD, PhD, Vice President, Dean for Academic Affairs Read about Dr. Trego’s new chapter with SUNY. Richard Soden, OD, Director of Health Care Development Joy Harewood, OD, Chief Diversity Officer Lisa Ostrin, OD, PhD, Vice President and Dean of Research Read Dr. Ostrin’s WO-exclusive story here.

The Ohio State University College of Optometry Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD, Immediate Past Dean Read Dr. Zadnik’s story with WO here. Jeffrey Walline, OD, PhD, Dean Gregory Nixon, OD, Associate Dean of Clinical Services Heather Anderson, OD, PhD, Associate Dean of Research Dawn Goedde, OD, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Northeastern State University College of Optometry Nathan Lighthizer, OD, Dean Earlena McKee, OD, MS, Associate Dean Jeffrey Miller, OD, FAAO, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs Ryan Fenska, OD, Assistant Dean of Clinical Care Joseph Shetler, OD, Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations & Development

Pacific University College of Optometry Jennifer Coyle, OD, MS, FAAO, President (University Administration) Read Dr. Coyle’s story with WO here. Bisant A. Labib, OD, FAAO, Dean, College of Optometry Read Dr. Labib’s story with WO here. William Hefner, OD, MEd, MSS, FAAO, Associate Dean of Clinical Programs Beth Kinoshita, OD, FAAO, Dipl AAO, Associate Dean of Academic Programs

Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus at Drexel University Josephine Ibironke, OD, MPH, FAAO, Dean Read Dr. Ibironke’s WO-exclusive story here. James Caldwell, OD, EdD, FAAO, Chief Academic Officer, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Maria Parisi, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs

Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry Iris R. Cabello, OD, Dean Read Dr. Cabello’s story about her new role on WO here. Ángel F. Romero, OD, Dean for Academic Affairs Damaris Pagán, OD, MPH, Dean of Clinical Affairs

Southern College of Optometry Lewis Reich, OD, PhD, President Scott Ensor, OD, Vice President for Clinical Programs J. Bart Campbell, OD, FAAO, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Rosenberg School of Optometry at University of the Incarnate Word Stephanie Schmiedecke Barbieri, OD, FAAO, ABCMO, Dipl. AAO, FNAP, Dean Read her story on WO here. Jeff Rabin, OD, MS, PhD, Assistant Dean for Research, Assessment and Graduate Studies Kyle Sandberg, OD, Assistant Dean of Professional Advancement

University of Houston College of Optometry Michael Twa, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dean Andrew Archila, OD, MBA, FAAO, Associate Dean for Clinical Operations Kimberly Lambreghts, RN, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean for Professional Programs Ralph J. Herring, OD, MHA, Assistant Dean for Professional Studies Danica Marrelli, OD, FAAO, Assistant Dean for Clinical Education Lucy Kehinde Darnell, OD, PhD, FAAO, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

Rocky Mountain University College of Optometry Donnie Akers, OD, Interim Dean Court Wilkins, OD, MHS, FAAO, Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs

OPTOMETRY SCHOOLS NOT OPEN YET

High Point University School of Optometry Catherine Heyman, OD, FAAO, Founding Dean Read her story with WO here. Paula Luke, OD, Associate Dean of Academics Read Dr. Luke’s WO-exclusive story here. Annette Bade, OD, MS, FAAO, Dipl-ABO, Associate Dean of Clinics

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke College of Optometric Medicine Rich Castillo, OD, DO, FASOS, Founding Dean Elizabeth Wyles, OD, FAAO, Founding Associate Dean Read Dr. Wyles’ WO-exclusive story here.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Optometry William L. Miller, OD, PhD, Dean Yutaka Maki, OD, MS, FOVDR, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Fred Farias III, OD, MS, FAAO, Associate Dean of External Relations, Associate Vice President Governmental Relations

Featured photo credit: Gemini

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