Alumni News

See what our alumni have been up to!
By Francesca Fuerman-George, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
Dr. Harold Pickens posing with his family on a tennis court
The Pickens' family - USTA Middle States Tennis Family of the Year

1970s

Gregory Bruchs (OD’79) retired in December 2024.

1980s

Harold Pickens (OD’83), his wife Debbie, and son Jeremy were named the USTA Middle States Tennis Family of the Year. They are now in the running for the National Tennis Family of the Year. Based in West Virginia, Dr. Pickens still practices optometry two days per week with cataract surgeon Raymond Bannan, MD (also an Ohio State alumnus). (photo above)

Tracy Parks Stradford (OD’88) retired after 24 years with Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, CA.

2010s

Andrea Crabb (OD’12) and husband Onkar Sawant welcomed son Lucas John Sawant on June 11, 2025.

Danielle Wilhelm Dreslinski (OD’12) and Jeremy Dreslinski (OD’11) welcomed Hannah Christine on May 9, 2025. She is their third child.

Two children and a baby are posed on a white blanket and white background
Hannah Christine Dreslinski with her brother and sister.

Jay Lytle (OD’14) and wife Brittany Lytle welcomed a new daughter in Summer 2025.

Nicole Klotzbuecher (OD’17) and husband Kyle Klotzbuecher welcomed their second daughter, Gabriella Rae Klotzbuecher on June 6, 2025.

Erica Shelton (OD/MS’18, PhD’25) graduated with her PhD in Vision Science from The Ohio State University College of Optometry on August 3, 2025.

Meg Shipitalo (OD/MS’18) and husband John Shipitalo welcomed son Jack in July 2024.

Liz Day (OD/MS’19) and husband Lewis Day welcomed daughter Maria Day in November 2024.

Rachel Fenton (OD/MS’19) and husband Alex Mysiw welcomed son Jensen Elliot in early July 2025.

Natalie Maiorca (OD’20, MS’19) and husband Francesco Maiorca (OD’20) welcomed son Giovanni Vincenzo in April 2025. He joins big sister Liliana!

2020s

Lauren Barker (OD’21) and family welcomed daughter Cora in June 2025.

Paul Grigsby (OD’21) and wife Dr. Morgan Alexander welcomed son Griffin Xander Grigsby on June 2, 2025 at Navy Hospital Sigonella in Sicily, Italy.

Megan Haresdin (OD’21) and husband Robert Haresdin welcomed Ella Haresdin on June 4, 2025. 

Emily Watson (OD/MS’23) married Jacob Miller on May 17, 2025 in Lancaster, Ohio.

Sarah Burens (OD/MS’24) married Maximilian Caliguire-Maier on June 19, 2025.

Conner Dewey (OD’24) and wife Kelley Groberg Dewey welcomed son Rowen in April 2025. He joins two older sisters!

Andrea Macke (OD’25) married Austin Beam on June 14, 2025.

In Memoriam

Robert E. Gregg (OD’67) passed away on July 30, 2025. He was 83.

John Michael Cook (OD’70) passed away on June 25, 2025. He was 79.

David Lee Kroninger (OD’75) passed away on May 9, 2025. He was 71.

Steven Wylie Binns (OD’86) passed away on July 6, 2025. He was 64.

You also might like