Faculty: College of Optometry

Faculty Emeriti

Raymond Applegate. Emeritus Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D. Indiana University; Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley.

Harold E. Bedell. Professor Emeritus of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Florida.

Yuzo M. Chino. Professor Emeritus of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., Syracuse University.

Karen D. Fern. Professor Emeritus of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D., Pacific University; Residency in Pediatric Optometry, University of Houston.

Ronald S. Harwerth. Professor Emeritus of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D., University of Houston; Ph.D., University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Nicky R. Holdeman, Professor Emeritus of Optometry. O.D. University of Houston, M.D. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Randall Jose. Professor Emeritus of Optometry. O.D., University of California, Berkeley.

Penelope Kegel-Flom. Professor Emeritus of Optometry. Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley.

Paul L. Pease. Professor Emeritus of Optometry. O.D., Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley.

Earl L. Smith III, Professor Emeritus of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston; Ph.D., University of Houston

Jerald S. Strickland. Professor Emeritus of Optometry. O.D., Indiana University; Ph.D., Indiana University.

Faculty

Raymond Applegate. Emeritus Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics, Active Retiree. O.D. Indiana University; Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley.

Andrew M. Archila. Clinical Professor of Optometry, Associate Dean for Clinical Operations. O.D., University of Houston; M.B.A. City University of New York; Fellowship in Clinical Administration and Optometric Management, State University of New York.

Krista Beach. Research Scientist. O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston. 

Julia Benoit. Research Associate Professor of Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 

Jan P. G. Bergmanson. Brien Holden Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D., Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Ph.D., Sc.D., The City University, London, England.

David A. Berntsen.Golden-Golden Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Cornea and Contact Lens, M.S., Ph.D., The Ohio State University.

Rudolph Black. Clinical Associate Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston.

Alan R. Burns. Benedict-Pitts Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of British Columbia.

Louvenia Carter-Dawson. Senior Research Professor of Physiological Optics. Ph.D., Harvard Medical School, Division of Biomedical Science.

Moriah Chandler. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., The Ohio State University.

Han Cheng.Clinical Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., O.D., University of Houston.

Daniel R. Coates. Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. 

Vivien J. Coulson-Thomas. Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Vallabh E. Das. Chair of Basic Sciences. John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University.

Jennifer L. Deakins. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Ocular Disease at Cedar Springs Eye Clinic in Dallas, Texas.

Luca Della Santina.Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D, Pharm.D. University of Pisa.

Kim Duong. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., M.S., State University of New York; M.P.H. University of Alabama at Birmingham. University of Houston.

Meron Fitta. Clinical Assistant Professor. O.D., Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University.

Laura J. Frishman. Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research and John and Rebecca Moores Professor. Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh.

Janet Garza. Clinical Assistant Professor. O.D., University of Houston.

Amber Gaume Giannoni. Clinical Professor of Optometry. O.D., Fellowship in Cornea and Contact Lens Research, University of Houston.

Marcus Gonzales. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston.

Anita Gostovic Ticak. Clinical Associate Professor. O.D., M.S., The Ohio State University.

Beth Harper. Clinical Associate Professor. O.D. State University of New York, Residency in  Ocular Disease and Primary Care, Veterans Administration, Boston MA.

Wendy Harrison. Associate Professor. O.D., Indiana University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. 

Ralph J. Herring. Assistant Dean for Professional Studies, Clinical Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Family Practice Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Nicole Hooper. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., Southern California College of Optometry.

Hong Ho. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Pediatrics, University of Houston.

Nange Jin. Research  Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. M.D., Yanbien University College of Medicine; Ph.D., Seoul National University.

Lucy Kehinde Darnell. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. Ph.D., O.D., University of Alabama.

Andrew Kemp. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Ocular Disease at the Cedar Springs Eye Clinic.

Tonya G. Ketcham. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., Indiana University School of Optometry; Ph.D., Indiana University Medical School.

Kathryn T. Keyzer.  Professor of Practice.  O.D. University of Houston.

Jung-Sun Kim. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometroy. O.D., University of Houston; Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine; Family Practice Residency, University o Houston.

Kimberly Lambreghts. Associate Dean for Professional Studies, Clinical Professor of Optometry. R.N., Pace University; O.D., The State University of New York College of Optometry; Residency in Hospital-Based Optometry, Northpost V.A. Medical Center, New York.

Karen L. Lee. Clinical Assistant Professor. O.D., Indiana University; Cornea and Contact Lens Residency, Southern California College of Optometry.

Anna-Kaye Logan. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., Nova Southeastern University. Residency in Cornea and Contact Lens, University of Houston.

Ruth E. Manny. Charles R. Stewart Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston.

Danica Marrelli. Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, Clinical Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Hospital-Based Optometry, Ft. Howard/Baltimore V.A. Medical Center.

Jason Marsack. Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Houston; M.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin.

Muriel Martinez. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Pediatric Optometry, University of Houston.

Swati Modi. Clinical Associate Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation, University of Houston.

Cherlyn J. Ng. Sr Research Scientist. Ph.D., National University of Singapore.

Lauri Nurminen. Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Helsinki.

John O’Brien. Benedict-McFadden Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of California, San Diego.

Lisa A. Ostrin. Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., Physiological Optics and Vision Sciences; O.D., University of Houston.

Lloyd Pate. Clinical Associate Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston.

Nimesh B. Patel. Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Houston; O.D., Southern College of Optometry.

Maureen Plaumann. Clinical Assistant Professor. O.D. Southern California College of Optometry, Ph.D., Ohio State University.

Ryan Patel. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D. Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

Marcus G. Piccolo. Associate Dean for Clincial Education and Associate Dean for Professional Advancement. O.D., Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

Mandy Polacco. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D. Southern California College of Optometry. Residency in Vision Therapy and Neuro-optometric Rehabilitation, State University of New York.

Jason Porter. Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Rochester.

Guoting Qin. Research Associate Professor of Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Houston.

Rachel Redfern. Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston.

Christophe P. Ribelayga. FERV Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D. University of Louis Pasteur.

Padhmalatha Segu. Clinical Professor of Optometry and Director of Optometry Services at Good Neighbor Healthcare Center. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Hospital-Based Optometry, American Lake V.A. Medical Center.

Justin Simbulan. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Primary Care at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center,

Scott B. Stevenson. Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., Brown University.

Jennifer Tasca. Clinical Assistant Professor. O.D., NOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry.

Ashley Wallace-Tucker. Visiting Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston.

Michael D. Twa. Humana Endowed Dean and Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D., UC Berkeley; Ph.D, The Ohio State University.

Maria Walker.Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. M.S., O.D., The New England College of Optometry; Ph.D. University of Houston,  Residency in Cornea and Contact Lens, Pacific University.

Samantha Wang. Clinical Assistant Professor. O.D.,  Residency in Ocular disease.

Joe L. Wheat. Clinical Associate Professor of Optometry. O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston.

Geunyoung Yoon. Professor and Borish Chair of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., Osaka University.

Zhijing Zhang. Research Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago.

Faculty Research 

Raymond Applegate. Emeritus Professor, Active Retiree. O.D., Indiana University; Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley. Visual optics, ocular aberrations, cataract, refractive surgery, early disease detection.

Krista Beach. Research Scientist. O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston. Environmental and behavioral influences on circadian rhythm and eye growth, myopia.

Julia Benoit. Research Associate Professor of Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Statistical methodology for longitudinal studies.

Jan P. G. Bergmanson. Brien Holden Professor. Ph.D., Sc.D., City University (London); O.D., Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Anatomy and pathology of cornea, corneal response to contact lenses, ultrastructural analysis of laser effects on ocular tissue.

David A. Berntsen. Golden-Golden Professor, Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Cornea and Contact Lens, M.S., Ph.D., The Ohio State University. Myopia, contact lens, aberrations of the eye.

Alan R. Burns. Benedict-Pitts Professor. Ph.D., University of British Columbia. Inflammation of the cornea, cornea wound healing; leucocyte biology.

Louvenia Carter-Dawson. Senior Research Professor. Ph.D., Harvard Medical School, Division of Biomedical Science. Retinal cell biology, confocal microscopy of retina and optic nerve, retinal ganglion cell injury and death in glaucoma.

Han Cheng. Clinical Professor. O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston. Noninvasive functional and structural evaluation of the visual pathways under normal and pathological conditions.

Daniel R. Coates.  Research Scientist. Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. Spatial vision, color vision, reading, and statistical and psychophysical methods.

Vivien J. Coulson-Thomas. Associate Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. Study of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans in the field of: cornea, cancer, wound healing, stem cells, inflammation, development, spinal cord injury and nerve regeneration.

Vallabh E. Das. John and Rebecca Moores Professor. Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University. Development of visual and oculomotor function; Response properties of neural oculomotor circuits in strabismus.

Luca Della Santina, Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D, Pharm.D. University of Pisa. Neural circuit and synaptic remodeling in retinal development and degeneration.

Tarsis Gesteira Ferreira. M.Sc., Ph.D. Federal University of Sao Paulo. Role of complex sugars and proteins in different eye pathologies, understanding their mechanism of action in order to explore their drugability, drug development.

Laura J. Frishman. John and Rebecca Moores Professor. M.S., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh. Retinal physiology, retinal origins and cellular mechanisms of the electroretinogram (ERG).

Wendy Harrison. Associate Professor. O.D., Indiana University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. Structural and functional changes in the eye in patients with diabetes.

Nange Jin.  Research  Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. M.D., Yanbien University College of Medicine; Ph.D., Seoul National University. Rod-cone coupling and retinal circuits.

Ruth E. Manny. Charles R. Stewart Professor. O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston. Development of normal and abnormal vision in human infants; preschool vision screening.

Jason D. Marsack. Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Houston; M.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin. Visual optics, ocular aberrations and optical corrections, wavefront guided contact lens development.

Swati Modi. Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry. O.D., University of Houston; Residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation, University of Houston.  Low vision research.

Cherlyn J. Ng. Sr Research Scientist. Ph.D., National University of Singapore. How the brain processes and represents sensory information, with particular emphasis on binocular vision.

Lauri Nurminen. Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Helsinki. Neural circuit mechanisms that underlie visual object perception. 

John O’Brien. Benedict-McFadden,Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of California, San Diego. Retinal electric synapses, molecular and biochemical studies of structure and function.

Lisa A. Ostrin. Associate Professor. O.D., University of Houston; Ph.D. Environmental and behavioral influences on circadian rhythm and eye growth, myopia.

Nimesh B. Patel. Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Houston; O.D., Southern College of Optometry. Methodologies for structural analysis that account for non-neuronal tissue and ocular magnification, structural risk factors for glaucoma progression, and the relationship between ganglion cell layer/inner plexiform layer thickness and visual function.

Maureen Plaumann. Clinical Assistant Professor. O.D. Southern California College of Optometry, Ph.D., Ohio State University. Binocular vision, adult amplyopia.

Jason Porter. Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Rochester. High-resolution retinal imaging with adaptive optics, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, mechanics of retinal disease.

Guoting Qin. Research Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Houston. Ocular surface pathology, drug delivery, antimicrobial peptides, applications of surface chemistry.

Rachel L. Redfern. Associate Professor. O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston. Toll-like receptors in ocular surface pathology, ocular allergy, ocular surface inflammation, dry eye disease.

Christophe P. Ribelayga. FERV Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D. University of Louis Pasteur. Circadian clocks and retinal cells, influence of retinal function of photoreceptor coupling.

Eric R. Ritchey. Assistant Professor. O.D., Ph.D., The Ohio State University. Myopia development and contact lenses, Meibomian gland structure and function.

Kaitlyn Sapoznik. Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. O.D., Illinois College of Optometry; Ph.D. Indiana University; Ocular Disease Residency, Indiana University. Use of high-resolution retinal imaging techniques to better understand the retinal microvasculature and diabetic retinopathy.

Diane N. Sayah. Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics/Vision Science/Vision Science. O.D., Ph.D. University of Montreal. Imaging, glaucoma, ocular disease and myopia in human subjects.

Scott B. Stevenson. Associate Professor. Ph.D., Brown University. Vergence eye movements and binocular coordination; stereoscopic depth perception; modeling of binocular image matching processes.

Michael D. Twa. Humana Endowed Professor. O.D., UC Berkeley; Ph.D., The Ohio State University. Optical OCT elastrography, corneal and other soft tissue biomechanics, structure-function relationships in  keratoconus, glaucoma and other diseases.

Maria Walker. Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. M.S., O.D., The New England College of Optometry; Ph.D. University of Houston,  Residency in Cornea and Contact Lens, Pacific University. Pathophysiology of keratoconus, utility and effects on the ocular surface of scleral lens wear.

Joe L. Wheat. Clinical Associate Professor. O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston. Structure-function relations in glaucoma and other ocular diseases

Geunyoung Yoon. Professor and Borish Chair of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., Osaka University. Optical and neural factors contributing to vision and refractive error development.

Zhijing Zhang. Research Assistant Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago. Circadian clocks and retinal cells, influence of retinal function of photoreceptor coupling.