Employee Focus 2026
Employee Focus on TJ Plageman
August 2026
Dr. TJ Plageman is a professor at The Ohio State University College of Optometry who runs a research lab studying how ocular tissues grow and develop, while also teaching and mentoring students and reviewing scientific work for peers. A Jenera, Ohio native with degrees from Ohio State and the University of Cincinnati, he was drawn to the college out of a desire to build his research career close to home. In his day-to-day work, he especially enjoys helping students succeed and exploring the hidden world through microscopy. When he's not in the lab or classroom, you'll find him spending time with his wife, Kari, and their four children, Matthew, Emily, Timothy, and Ethan enjoying sports, board games, woodworking, hiking, and science fiction.
Employee Focus on Devon Piskac
July 2026
Devon Piskac is a Registration Coordinator at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, bringing a background in Music Technology and a passion for patient care and service to his role as one of the first points of contact for the clinic. His day-to-day work includes scheduling, insurance verification, and patient coordination, and he's recently begun training in special testing with an eye toward CPO certification. Outside of work, Devon is a flutist in a community band, a cat fosterer, and an avid cook and artist who carries the same people-first spirit into everything he does.
Employee Focus on Erica Shelton
June 2026
Erica Shelton (OD/MS'18, PhD'25) is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the College of Optometry who has been with the college for nearly eight years as an employee. Her days are varied, splitting time between patient care in the pediatric, binocular vision, and vision therapy clinics, teaching the VS 6100 course, and conducting research. She finds the greatest joy in teaching, particularly in witnessing students gain confidence and clarity as they master new concepts.
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Employee Focus on Sneha Govande
May 2026
Sneha Govande, PhD, is a Research Scientist at the College of Optometry, where she has worked for six months after earning her PhD in Biostatistics from Florida State University in 2022. She collaborates with faculty and students to develop statistical analysis plans, conduct power analyses, and produce reports that support grant applications and manuscripts, finding the most joy in the people she works with and the research she contributes to. Outside of work, Sneha's greatest joy is spending time with her three-year-old son, and she also enjoys reading, podcasts, cooking, and exploring the Columbus food scene.
Employee Focus on David Damari
April 2026
Dr. David Damari was drawn to The Ohio State University College of Optometry by his respect for the faculty and administration. "There really isn't a typical day for me," he says of his current position as a clinical professor. His work spans teaching and patient care across multiple clinical services, where he finds particular fulfillment in mentoring younger faculty and watching students grow from their earliest clinical training through graduation. Outside of work, he enjoys reading history, playing acoustic guitar, and traveling and watching movies with his wife Rita and their two adult children.
Employee Focus on Jen Bennett
March 2026
In Jen Bennett's current role as The Ohio State University College of Optometry's Assistant Dean of Student Services, she oversees everything from recruitment and admissions to student support and professional development programs, with a focus on setting OD students up for success throughout their optometry school journey. Jen finds the greatest joy in watching students grow in confidence from their admissions interview all the way through graduation. Outside of work, she stays busy with her kids' extracurricular activities and enjoys reading fiction and shopping. Growing up on a farm taught her the values of hard work, problem-solving, and perseverance, and she carries these lessons with her to this day.
Employee Focus on Michelle Buckland
February 2026
Michelle Buckland (OD/MS'06) an Associate Professor at Ohio State's College of Optometry, provides patient care with clinical teaching in the Pediatric, Binocular Vision or Vision Therapy clinics. A 2006 graduate of the program herself, she finds great fulfillment when students witness how their clinical care transforms patients' lives, such as helping a child with convergence insufficiency become an honor student or enabling a traumatic brain injury patient to return to work. Outside the clinic and classroom, Dr. Buckland enjoys supporting her children's sports and music activities, staying active through running and yoga, and planning family adventures.
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Employee Focus on Matt Jewett
January 2026
Matt Jewett serves as Assistant Director of IT and HIPAA Privacy Officer at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, where he's found the perfect role to focus on his passion for security and privacy issues. In his seven years at the college, he's worn multiple hats: managing privacy compliance; coordinating security and disaster recovery efforts; and overseeing help desk operations. What brings him the most joy is solving problems and exploring new technologies through collaborative campus projects. Outside of work, this Portsmouth, Ohio native enjoys biking, golfing, and catching live music with his wife, especially if it's in the Florida Keys.
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