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Leadership Transition Dates

Deans Flanagan and Bentley.
Welcoming Dean Bentley; thanking Dean Flanagan.

After a decade of exceptional leadership, John Flanagan will step down as dean of the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science on February 11, 2025. We will miss his guidance as dean, but are grateful that he will continue to serve as a professor of optometry and vision science at Berkeley – focusing on research related to basic mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease, with an emphasis on human glaucoma.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sharon A. Bentley, who will officially begin her term as Dean on February 12, 2025. Dr. Bentley brings over 25 years of experience in optometry, public health, and education. As the incoming dean, she will oversee the school’s academic programs, research initiatives, and community outreach. Her extensive background in strategic planning and program management, as well as her deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, make her an excellent fit for our school. Her research has focused on the effects of vision impairment on daily living and on the provision of low-vision services. We look forward to this new chapter under Dr. Bentley’s leadership!

Q&A With Dr. Bentley