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Leadership

The UAB School of Optometry includes the Department of Optometry and Vision Science. The chair of the department is responsible for faculty assignments and allocation of departmental resources. The dean, associate deans, department chair, and the director of administration and fiscal affairs serve as the Dean’s Group.

  • Dean's Group

    Chris Boutwell

    Chris Boutwell, MAc

    Director, Administration and Fiscal Affairs
    Keisha Brown

    Keisha Brown, OD

    Director, Access and Engagement
    Adam Gordon

    Adam Gordon, OD, MPH, FAAO

    Chair, Department of Optometry and Vision Science
    Kristine Hopkins

    Kristine B. Hopkins, OD, MSPH, FAAO

    Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
    Timothy Kraft

    Timothy Kraft, PhD

    Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies
    Kelly K. Nichols

    Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

    Dean
    Steven Pittler

    Steven Pittler, PhD, FARVO, FAAO

    Director, Vision Science Executive Committee
    Gerald Simon

    Gerald Simon, OD

    Associate Dean, Student Affairs
    Lawrence Sincich

    Lawrence Sincich, PhD

    Director, Graduate Program
    Elizabeth Steele

    Elizabeth Steele, OD, FAAO

    Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs
  • Administration

    Chris Boutwell, MAc

    Chris Boutwell, MAc

    Director, Administrative Operations
    Keisha Brown

    Keisha Brown, OD

    Director, Access and Engagement
    Terri Call

    Terri Call, OD

    Service Director, Primary Care
    Katherine Clore

    Katherine Clore, OD

    Director, University Optometric Group and Continuing Education
    Adam Gordon

    Adam Gordon, OD, MPH, FAAO

    Chair, Department of Optometry and Vision Science and Service Director, Cornea and Contact Lens Service
    Kristine Hopkins

    Kristine Hopkins, OD, MSPH, FAAO

    Director, Vision Therapy
    Harold "Joey" Jones

    Harold "Joey" Jones

    Director, Computing and Data Resources (CADRE)
    Tamara Oechslin

    Tamara Oechslin, OD, PhD, FAAO

    Service Director, Special Rotations
    Caroline Beesley Pate

    Caroline Beesley Pate, OD, FAAO

    Director, Residency Programs
    Satina Richardson

    Satina Richardson, MA

    Director, Communications
    Janene Sims

    Janene Sims, OD, PhD, FAAO

    Service Director, Community Eye Care
    Director, Academic Integrity
    Gerald Simon

    Gerald Simon, OD

    Associate Dean, Student Affairs
    Lawrence Sincich

    Lawrence Sincich, PhD

    Director, Graduate Program
    Mark Swanson

    Mark Swanson, OD

    Service Director, Ocular Disease
    Sommer Thompson

    Sommer Thompson

    Director, Development and Alumni Affairs
    Candice Turner

    Candice Turner, OD

    Director, Externship
    Katherine Weise

    Katherine Weise, OD, MBA, FAAO

    Service Director, Pediatrics
  • Strategic Advisory Committee

    John Amos, OD

    John Amos, OD

    Chair, Emeritus Committee
    Chris Boutwell, Mac

    Chris Boutwell, Mac

    Director, Administration and Fiscal Affairs
    Keisha Brown, OD

    Keisha Brown, OD

    Co-Chair, Community Engagement Pillar
    Sara Browning Cooper

    Sara Browning Cooper

    SGA President
    Caleb Gardner, OD

    Caleb Gardner, OD

    Alumni Association Past-President
    Lei Liu, PhD

    Lei Liu, PhD

    Chair, Faculty Advisory Committee
    Mai Nguyen

    Mai Nguyen

    Graduate Program Representative
    Kelly K. Nichols

    Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO

    Dean
    Tamara Oechslin, OD, PhD, FAAO

    Tamara Oechslin, OD, PhD, FAAO

    Chair, Education Pillar
    Steven Pittler

    Steven Pittler, PhD, FARVO, FAAO

    Co-Chair, Research
    Julie Quinet

    Julie Quinet

    Co-Chair, Research
    Satina Richardson, MA

    Satina Richardson, MA

    Director, Communications
    Mary Jean Sanspree

    Mary Jean Sanspree, PhD

    Member-at-large
    Janene Sims, OD, PhD

    Janene Sims, OD, PhD

    Co-Chair, Community Engagement Pillar
    Taylor Sullivan

    Taylor Sullivan

    Chair, Staff Council
    Sommer Thompson

    Sommer Thompson

    Senior Director, Development
    Valencia Wells, OD

    Valencia Wells, OD

    Alumni Board Representative
    Jillian Ziemanski

    Jillian Ziemanski, OD, MS, FAAO

    Co-Chair, Clinic