| Press Releases |
Illinois College of Optometry announces new office and leadership advancements
March 6, 2008 (CHICAGO)—The Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) today announces the creation of an integrated and robust Student, Alumni and College Development Office. In addition to a newly created service unit, ICO also announces the appointments of Mark Colip, O.D. to Vice President for Student, Alumni and College Development and Vincent Brandys, O.D. to Senior Director for Government Relations and Advancement.
The new Student, Alumni and College Development Office combines key services into a more centralized service unit to increase operating efficiency and provide customer service to ICO students, alumni and supporters. As a result, these constituents can expect convenient access to personal and professional resources, increased networking opportunities and enhanced support for programs and services that impact ICO’s mission to provide excellence in optometric clinical education.
“I firmly believe that our faculty and staff are central to what sets ICO apart, so we took advantage of some recent opportunities to really look at the way we were conducting business,” said Illinois College of Optometry President Arol Augsburger, O.D. “We made a decision not to fill a recently vacated senior leadership position and instead have been able to promote several staff members and create new support staff positions—a real luxury given the uncertain economy.”
As the Vice President for Student, Alumni and College Development, Dr. Colip will leverage 16 years of experience with ICO to lead a multi-faceted service unit to further extend student, alumni, and development relations. He will also draw on his experience in staff management and development to elevate staff to take on new roles and responsibilities as part of a new staffing model. Dr. Colip’s extensive background and expertise encompassing student affairs, fundraising and teaching showcase his ability to act as a student advocate and manage and cultivate meaningful relationships with alumni and supporters for the benefit of ICO. As a graduate of ICO and an active member of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, American Optometric Association, and Illinois Optometric Association, Dr. Colip will continue to advance the field of optometry through his new role at ICO.
With the recent establishment of the Illinois Eye Institute Foundation, Dr. Brandys will serve as the fundraising liaison for both the Illinois Eye Institute and its foundation. One of Dr. Brandys first responsibilities as the Senior Director for Government Relations and Advancement is to oversee the fundraising effort of the Illinois Eye Institute Foundation’s Inaugural Gala, which will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009. He will also continue connecting with legislators for support of the Illinois Eye Institute’s mission and programs. Also a graduate of ICO, Dr. Brandys is a past president of the Illinois Optometric Association (IOA) and the recipient of the IOA's 2008 Keyperson of the Year award for his legislative and lobbying efforts on behalf of optometry.