SUNY Optometry community comes together in solidarity and service
NEW YORK, NY — The SUNY College of Optometry campus community gathered to pay tribute to faculty and staff contributions during the 13th annual Recognition Awards Ceremony on Thursday, December 16. The event, held in the College’s Schwarz Theater, was hosted as a hybrid ceremony, including an online and live audience who adhered to the masking protocol throughout the event.
The celebration kicked off with faculty and staff honors for years of service. Among the dedicated group is Jerome Sherman, OD, a distinguished teaching professor who has served as a clinician and educator at the College since its inception in 1971. The service awards were followed by special commendations nominated by peers for excellence and contributions to the campus community, including a new honor recognizing support for the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
50 YEARS
Jerome Sherman, OD
30 YEARS
Anita King-Barrington
Patricia Modica, OD
Quintin Sawyer
25 YEARS
Oladapo Adurogbola
Irma Gomez
Doreen Carter, OD
20 YEARS
Asima Cuevas, OD
Wendy Hollander
Myoung-Hee Han, OD
Rochelle Kale
Kathleen Tengbe
Patricia Villanueva
Jorge Villon
Faculty Community Spirit Award
Ann Beaton, Ph.D.
Staff Community Spirit Award
Rosa Rodriguez
Unsung Hero Award
Stephen Pereira, OD
Jacob Chavez
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
Diane Calderon-Villanueva, OD
President’s Merit Award in Excellence
Cristina Gomez, RN
In addition to this year’s honorees, Betsy Torres, associate director for the Office of Continuing Education, was acknowledged for her long-time participation in and leadership of the College’s Recognition Committee, having served on the committee for 13 years. This year, the committee’s leadership transitioned to Nicole Totans, associate director of the Annual Fund, and Jessilin Estevez, clinic manager of the Vision Rehabilitation Service, who hosted the lively celebration along with David A. Heath, OD, the College president.
For more about SUNY Optometry and the University Eye Center, visit sunyopt.edu.
December 17, 2020
Organization contact: Adrienne Stoller, communications@sunyopt.edu, 212-938-5600
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About SUNY College of Optometry
Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry is a leader in education, research, and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and PhD degrees in vision science. The College conducts a robust program of basic, translational and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites.
SUNY Optometry is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; its four-year professional degree program and residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association. All classrooms, research facilities and the University Eye Center, which is one of the largest optometric outpatient facilities in the nation, are located on 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in midtown Manhattan. For more information, visit www.sunyopt.edu or follow us on twitter @sunyopt.