Assemblywoman Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair of the Standing Committee on Higher Education, to Give Keynote Address
Drs. William K. Stell & Ted Long, Leaders in Vision Science & Public Health, to Receive Honorary Degrees
New York, NY — SUNY College of Optometry today announced that its 2025 Commencement Ceremony will feature a keynote address from Assemblywoman Alicia L. Hyndman, a lifelong advocate for education, equity, and economic opportunity in New York. The ceremony will also include the conferral of honorary degrees to two distinguished leaders in vision science and public health: Dr. William K. Stell, PhD, MD, and Dr. Ted Long, MD, MHS. The 2025 Commencement marks the first to be presided over by the College of Optometry’s newly appointed President, Dr. David Troilo.
“This year’s Commencement celebrates not only the achievements of our graduates, but also the profound impact of leaders whose work has transformed vision science, public health, and education,” said Dr. David Troilo, PhD, President of SUNY Optometry. “Dr. Stell, Dr. Long, and Assemblywoman Hyndman each exemplify values that guide the SUNY Optometry community—curiosity, compassion, and a deep commitment to promoting the public good. It is an honor to be welcoming them into the SUNY Optometry family.”
Representing Southeast Queens in the New York State Assembly since 2015, Assemblywoman Hyndman currently serves as Chair of the Standing Committee on Higher Education. Her legislative and professional career reflects decades of advocacy for public education, community development, and racial justice. She holds a B.A. from SUNY New Paltz and an M.P.A. from Framingham State College.
Dr. William K. Stell, PhD, MD, will receive the Doctor of Science, honoris causa, in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the field of vision science. A graduate of Swarthmore College and the University of Chicago, Dr. Stell has made foundational discoveries about retinal structure and function, particularly in understanding outer-retinal circuits and the mechanisms behind color-coding and myopia. He served for decades as a faculty member and research director at the University of Calgary and remains an active scientific advisor to international vision research groups.
Dr. Ted Long, MD, MHS, will receive the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, for his transformative leadership in public health and ambulatory care. As Senior Vice President at NYC Health + Hospitals, Dr. Long leads one of the nation’s largest outpatient networks and was instrumental in the City’s COVID-19 response through the NYC Test & Trace Corps. A practicing physician and policy leader, he has also held key roles at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Rhode Island Department of Health. Dr. Long earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Yale and is on faculty at NYU Langone, Yale School of Medicine, and Harvard Medical School.
“It is a privilege to address the graduates of SUNY College of Optometry—leaders poised to make an impact not just in clinical settings, but in communities across New York and across the country,” said Assemblywoman Hyndman, Chair of the Standing Committee on Higher Education. “As someone who has long championed educational equity and pushed for greater access to educational opportunities, I see SUNY Optometry’s mission as a powerful example of how public institutions can promote academic excellence while fostering a strong and vibrant community.”
“To be recognized by SUNY College of Optometry, an institution that has shaped the future of vision science and care for over half a century, is an honor,” said Dr. William K. Stell, PhD, MD. “My work has always been driven by a desire to understand the foundations of sight and translate that knowledge into better outcomes for patients, and I’m proud to join a community committed to that same goal.”
“I’m proud to receive this recognition from SUNY Optometry, an institution at the forefront of training healthcare professionals to serve all communities and transform eye care for the better,” said Dr. Ted Long, MD, MHS. “From value-based care to community-driven access, my work has always centered on the principle that healthcare is a human right, and every New Yorker deserves quality health services. I deeply admire SUNY Optometry’s commitment to this principle through embedding equity and innovation into every level of care and education.”
Honorary degrees are awarded by the SUNY Board of Trustees and recognize individuals whose work embodies the values of service, scholarship, and impact.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2025
Media Contact: Dawn Rigney
communications@sunyopt.edu 212-938-5600
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About SUNY 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 as well as an on-site clinic, the University Eye Center. 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 in midtown Manhattan. To learn more about SUNY Optometry, visit www.sunyopt.edu.