Employee Focus
Everything you might ever want to know about our wonderful employees here at the College of Optometry.
Look through our collection of employee focus articles
Employee Focus on Tim Fries
May 2025
Dr. Tim Fries draws on his well-rounded educational background and extensive experience in private practice in his role as an assistant professor at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Not only does he teach four courses in optometric business and practice management, he also advises students one-on-one, evaluating career opportunities and reviewing employment contracts.
Employee Focus on Karla Gengler-Nowak
April 2025
Dr. Karla Gengler-Nowak helps Ohio State Optometry investigators navigate the grant proposal process and manage the grants and contracts once they're awarded. In addition to her role as Grants and Contracts Administrator, she also helps faculty and staff expand their knowledge by assigning BuckeyeLearn training. When asked to provide advice to new employees, she replied, "Stay curious! It’s the best way to deeply understand your own job and how it fits in with what everyone is doing around you, and that’s a good way to recognize opportunities to contribute."
Read more about Dr. Gengler-Nowak >>
Employee Focus on Steven Manning
March 2025
Dr. Steven Manning has a difficult time choosing what gives him the most joy in his work as an attending doctor in Ohio State Optometry's Vision Therapy Clinic. He says, "It is hard to choose between illustrating to students how much impact they can have on people through vision therapy and connecting with the patients themselves!"
Read more about Dr. Manning >>
Employee Focus on Donald L. Bolen
February 2025
Donald Bolen, Ohio State Optometry's Building Services Assistant, takes care of the college's optical equipment and especially enjoys getting everything set in place and working properly. Fun fact about Donald: He has played in Bluegrass bands for more than 25 years!
Employee Focus on Jocelyn Daniel
January 2025
As an Assistant Clinical Professor and Chief of the Primary Vision Care (PVC) Service at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Dr. Jocelyn Daniel touches the lives of students during each year of optometry school, teaching in the classroom, instructing in the lab, and attending in the clinic. She especially enjoys helping students gain confidence in themselves so they are able to become incredible clinicians.
Employee Focus on Candace Johnson
December 2024
Candace Johnson, MBA, loves meeting prospective students and "learning what makes them tick." She says, "I am honored that I have the privilege of helping them reach their educational and career goals." As The Ohio State University College of Optometry's Assistant Director of Admissions, Candace uses her impressive background and education to ensure that the admissions process runs smoothly.
Employee Focus on JP Masczak
November 2024
Dr. J.P. Maszczak spends the majority of his week at Ohio State Optometry's Upper Arlington satellite clinic as an attending doctor overseeing interns examining patients and assisting with clinic operations. He truly enjoys working with students, and he says, "Their enthusiasm and motivation to improve their clinical skills as they push toward graduation is really inspiring; I love to see them take pride in the care they are providing to patients."
Read more about Dr. Masczak >>
Employee Focus on Carol Wilcox
October 2024
With more than 29 years of service at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Carol Wilcox is well known for her encyclopedic knowledge of all things related to the college, her kindness and compassion for others, and her ability to take on any project or event and make it even better. Of her current role in the bustling dean's office, says, "The days when everything falls into place are good days." Thankfully for us, most days fall into that category because of Carol.
Employee Focus on Chris Silva
September 2024
Chris Silva truly enjoys a mix of patient care and teaching opticianry in his position as an Instructing Licensed Optician in our Eyewear Gallery. He thrives in this role, teaching students how to help patients with frame and lens options, and how to adjust and troubleshoot glasses. In addition, he takes great pleasure in interacting with patients. He says that spending time with fantastic coworkers and interns brings him joy!
Employee Focus on Lisa Jordan
August 2024
Lisa Jordan, PhD, joined The Ohio State University College of Optometry on September 1, 1996 as a biostatistician working with a new faculty member (Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD) researching nearsightedness in kids. Twenty-eight years later, Dr. Jordan's days are never dull, as she oversees a variety of grants, helping faculty members develop projects that will answer vision research questions.
Employee Focus on Jonathon Ross
July 2024
Since joining The Ohio State University College of Optometry as an assistant clinical professor one year ago, Dr. Jonathon Ross has established himself as an invaluable member of the college's clinical and didactical faculty. The California native has come to enjoy everything Columbus has to offer, which he especially loves experiencing alongside his wife, Dr. Shering Torres-Ross, and their three-month-old son.
Employee Focus on Emma Grant
June 2024
There’s never a typical day on the job at The Ohio State University College of Optometry for Clinical Research Coordinator Emma Grant. A true “people person,” Emma puts her education (a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in clinical research) and love for interacting with others to good use, organizing adult and pediatric clinical trials. “What brings me the most joy in my work is the research participants,” she says. “At any given time we typically have about 100 participants enrolled in research, so I get to meet lots of new people. I also love the team I work with and have enjoyed learning about the field of optometry.”
Employee Focus on Kerri McTigue
May 2024
Senior Graphic Designer Kerri McTigue approaches each project with the sensibility of a classically trained artist. If you’ve seen our clinic’s iconic “Cool Brutus” art or noticed the beautiful optometric-themed imagery throughout Fry Hall and The Optometry Clinic, you’re familiar with her work. A graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design, Kerri came to The Ohio State University College of Optometry 20 years ago, which she says is, “One of the best decisions I’ve made!”
Employee Focus on Walter Wu
April 2024
Dr. Walter Wu is Ohio State Optometry’s first Fellow-to-Faculty hire, and he officially joined the college in July 2023. Dr. Wu’s primary research focuses on the impact of impaired vision on individuals’ quality of life and daily activities. He says, “What brings me the most joy in my work is the exchange of ideas and thoughts with colleagues and students on challenging research questions.”
Employee Focus on Freda Dallas Hughley
March 2024
Freda Dallas Hughley’s official Ohio State Optometry Services title is Binocular Vision and Pediatrics Service Coordinator, but her self-proclaimed title is Patient Advocate. We couldn’t agree more. She says, “This is especially true for our Traumatic Brian Injury patients. It is rewarding to help them regain some of the abilities they lost and defeat the odds of their recovery.”