Dear Optometry Community,
I am delighted to announce three important initiatives for Berkeley Optometry.
1. Dr. Christine Wildsoet has agreed to be the School’s Equity Advisor. This is a role that Dr. Wildsoet has held previously and I am grateful that Chris is willing to serve again in this important faculty position, at this time of reflection and opportunity.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Michael Silver for his inspired service as the previous Equity Advisor. Michael played a particularly important role in ensuring best practices were incorporated into our hiring protocols, along with the many other duties of this position including student recruitment, inclusion and climate. See the attached document that describes the responsibilities of the Equity Advisor.
2. The Clinic Climate Task Force will transition to a Standing Committee of the School and will include representation from all years of the program.
3. The formation of the Berkeley Optometry Council for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB). The Council will be Co-Chaired by our Director of DEIB Barinder Dhillon-Flanagan and Faculty Advisor to Student Affairs Dr. Mika Moy, and will represent all constituents of the School.
The Council’s Mission Statement is: “To identify and support opportunities to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within Berkeley Optometry.”
The Council members are:
Senate Faculty
Teresa Puthussery
Chris Wildsoet
Clinical Faculty
Kuni Kanai
Mika Moy
School Staff
Monica Porter
Jessica Rivers
Clinic Staff
Angelica Gonzalez
Issaias Guerrero Gonzalez
OD Students
Andrea Huerta
Linda Vang
VS Student
Orneika Flandrin
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ananya Datta
NOSA President
Vivian Dinh
Hector Carillo
NOSA Faculty
Jorge Cuadros
Alumni
Joy Harewood
Clyde Oden
Associate Deans
Gunilla Haegerstrom-Portnoy
Nancy McNamara
Chris Wilmer
Thank you to everyone for agreeing to serve on this important initiative.
Sincerely,
John Flanagan
Dean and Professor
Berkeley Optometry