Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are a primary means of implementing ASCO’s mission of “fulfilling the leadership role in the optometric education enterprise” and for addressing the Association’s Strategic Objectives of faculty development and faculty involvement. They are a practical way to meet special needs and interests within the optometric education enterprise.

SIG Framework

SIG Contacts

Advancement

Dawn Rigney (SUNY), Chair
drigney@sunyopt.edu

Binocular Vision and Perception Educators

Sarah El-Khazendar, Chair
selkha@midwestern.edu

Biomedical Science Educators

Dr. Steve Pittler (UAB), Chair
pittler@uab.edu

Clinical Directors/Administrators

Dr. Greg Nixon (OSU), Chair
nixon.24@osu.edu

Clinical Optometric Methods & Procedures Instructors

Jennifer Reilly (NECO), Co-Chair
reillyj@neco.edu

 
Annette Bade (NOVA), Co-Chair
abade@nova.edu

Continuing Education Directors

Katherine Clore (UAB), Co-chair
kclore@uab.edu

Kathy Trammell (UAB), Co-chair
ktram@uab.edu

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dr. Keshia Elder (UAB), Chair
kselder@uab.edu

Educational Technology

Dr. Thomas Wong (SUNY), Chair
tawong@sunyopt.edu

Ethics Educators

Dr. Erick Mothersbaugh (ICO), Chair
emothersbaugh@ico.edu

Externship Directors

Dr. Elli J. Kollbaum (IU), Chair
ekollbau@indiana.edu

Dr. Jaymeni Patel (ICU), Co-chair
jpatel@ico.edu

International Optometric Educators

International Collaborations with ASCO’s International Optometric Educators SIG  –  Collaborative Program Questionnaire

Dr. Meng Meng Xu (NECO), Chair
xum@neco.edu

Dr. John Nishimoto (MBKU), Vice Chair
jnishimoto@ketchum.edu

Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice

Dr. Melissa Zarn (SCO), Chair
mzarn@sco.edu

Low Vision Educators

Dr. Kathleen Boland (UMSL), Chair
bolandk@umsl.edu

Neuro-rehab Educators

Dr. Katherine Green (NOVA), Chair
kgreen2@nova.edu

Ophthalmic Optics Educators

Dr. Maria Armandi (PCO), Co-Chair
marmandi@salus.edu

Dr. Rachel Brackley (PCO), Co-Chair
rbrackley@salus.edu

Public Health Educators

Dr. Meng Xu (NECO), Chair
Xum@neco.edu 

Dr. Jennifer Hue (SUNY), Chair-elect jhue@sunyopt.edu 

Residency Educators

Dr. Dawn Goedde (OSU), Co-Chair
goedde.11@osu.edu

Dr. Don Lyon (IUSO), Co-Chair
dwlyon@indiana.edu

Vision Science Librarians

Rudy Barreras (WUCO), Co-chair
rbarreras@westernu.edu

Heather Edmonds (NECO), Co-chair
edmondsh@neco.edu