Academics
Alumni & Donors
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ICO Matters is the official alumni magazine of the Illinois College of Optometry. Published three times per year, the magazine showcases what is happening with ICO alumni, current students and in the field of optometry. No matter what kind of news you have – whether it’s a new practice opportunity or a new baby – the ICO Matters staff wants to know so we can let your classmates know, too. 2012 2007 |
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The Illinois College of Optometry is now offering alumni e-mail addresses to ICO graduates and graduates of affiliate colleges (NICO, CCO, and MCO).
The purpose of offering alumni e-mail accounts is to provide you with a professional email address to use on your web site, business cards and letterhead. People will take one look at your e-mail address and know immediately that you are a graduate of ICO, which is something to be very proud of. It also helps us stay connected with you throughout your career and beyond, and it serves as a means to maintain your affiliation with the College.
The format for all alumni e-mail addresses is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Messages from your new alumni account will automatically be forwarded to your existing (yahoo, hotmail or gmail) account.
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Transcripts for ICO alumni are compliments of the Alumni Association. Please note that there is a fee for a duplicate diploma ($50.00 for 13x18 size and $25.00 for 8x12 size).
When requesting a transcript or duplicate diploma, we must receive your request in writing to:
Illinois College of Optometry
Attn: Registrar's Office
3241 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
Or fax: (312) 949-7680
If you have any questions regarding transcripts or duplicate diplomas, please call the Registrar's Office at (312) 949-7425.
The ICO Library offers a variety of services and is happy to support the needs of
our Alumni.
Library support services available:
- Copies of articles for journals (within copyright laws)
- Loans from the book collection
- Online Library Catalog access at: http://library.ico.edu
- Literature searches of PubMed (MEDLINE), VisionCite, et al.
- Loansome Doc services
- Reference questions answered
Also available is VisionCite, the library’s specialized index of the vision science literature (formerly VAL):
- http://www.visioncite.com
- 300,500 citations from 1984- covering the optometric and ophthalmic literature
- Indexes over 120 titles, including many not available in PubMed
- 12,000 articles added yearly
- 20% discount for ICO Alumni
- 100% discount for Leadership Circle members
For subscription information, please contact Christine Weber at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Donations to the Library:
The library staff is glad to accept book and journal donations from alumni. All material donated is evaluated. However, College policy prohibits us to place a value on the items. The library reserves the right to add the material to the collection or offer it to other libraries or the students and faculty.
Contacts:
For Interlibrary Loans: Sandra Engram This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For VisionCite inquiries: Christine Weber This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Whether you want to reconnect with old friends, network with colleagues or refer a patient, the Illinois College of Optometry's Online Alumni Directory can be a great resource for you.
http://alumnidirectory.ico.edu/
How it works
Click on "Register for an Account." After signing-up, you will receive an e-mail confirming your registration and indicating that your account will be reviewed to verify that you are an ICO alumnus. Please note that accounts will be reviewed and approved during business hours: Monday - Friday from 9:00 - 5:00 pm, Central time.
We will send you another e-mail to let you know that your account has been approved. Be sure to remember your log-in ID and your password, as we do not keep a record of them at the College.
When using the online directory, consider searching by last name, last initial, first name, city, state, zip code, or class. We also encourage you to search for yourself, and make sure we have your current contact information. If you would like to change your contact information, just complete the Change of Address form on the web site. Or, you can also call us at 312-949-7080 or send an email to
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The Illinois College of Optometry offers numerous services and resources to keep you connected with the College and other alumni, to enhance your knowledge and to help you succeed in practice. Most services are offered free of charge to ICO alumni and graduates of our affiliate colleges (Northern Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago College of Optometry and Monroe College of Optometry).
- Search for classmates and colleagues through our online alumni directory.
- If you are looking for an associate or an associate position, the online professional opportunities listings are a great resource.
- There are also a number of library services that are offered to help you find articles and information on topics from patient care to practice management.
- If you are in the process of getting licensed, you can request your official transcript, or if you are opening a 2nd office, you can request a duplicate diploma (nominal printing fee).
- If you have changed locations and would like to keep receiving news about the College, you may update your contact information by submitting a change of address form. We often get calls and emails from doctors needing to refer a patient to an ICO alumnus in another city or state, therefore your current contact information is vital in order for us to give you referrals.
- Lastly, you may also request an ICO alumni e-mail address.
Whatever your needs are, we hope to meet and exceed your expectations!
For more than 20 years, the Alumni Association has celebrated the achievements of those who have excelled in the optometric profession.
Please join us in congratulating the 2010 Alumni Association Award recipients!
Humanitarian Awards
Illinois Sen. Kwame Raoul and OneSight
Alumnus of the Year Award
Walter H. Mayo, OD ‘85
Distinguished Friend Awards
Dan & Denise Reberski (Star Ophthalmic Instruments)
Sharon Uher (ICO)
Lifetime Service Award
Robert L. Johnson, OD ‘69 (posthumously)
Professional Achievement Award
David W. Hansen, OD ‘71, FAAO, FCOVD
Excellence in Education Award
Daniel K. Roberts, OD, PhD
Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Geoffrey Goodfellow, OD ‘01, FAAO
The goals of the Alumni Council shall support the Mission of the College and thereby fall under these two major categories: Non-Fiscal and Fiscal, or more specifically, Outreach and Philanthropy.
OUTREACH – Represent and Promote ICO to Alumni, Students, and Prospective Students
| Goal #1 | Promote the profession of optometry/ICO to potential students |
| Objective/Action: | Alumni Mentor Program |
Description: The Alumni Mentor Program shall be a pilot program beginning with current Alumni Council members as the initial mentors. The primary outreach will be to prospective students, ICO applicants, and current students. Alumni Mentors must be prepared to answer the following questions: “Why choose optometry?” and “Why choose ICO?” The Alumni Relations Office will provide resource materials for mentors to answer questions more readily and accurately. Responsibilities include:
| 1) Prospective Students: | a) attend career fairs at local schools b) distribute ICO literature c) distribute business cards d) record prospective student contact information e) contact prospective students following fair f) invite to office to shadow |
| 2) Accepted Applicants: | a) provide Alumni Council contact information b) take calls/emails c) schedule office visits |
| 3) Current Students: | a) provide Alumni Council contact information to all students at beginning of every year b) take calls/emails from students c) schedule office visits d) provide resources for students e) be accessible and approachable |
| Goal #2 | Promote leadership opportunities to students/alumni |
| Objective/Action “A”: | Institute program whereby alumni recognize other alumni achievements |
Description: This program shall be led by Alumni Council members. Responsibilities include: reading state newsletters and regional journals, looking for achievements by ICO alumni, sending a personal congratulatory note on behalf of the Alumni Council, and forwarding the achievement notice to the Alumni Director for inclusion in ICO Matters. The Alumni Director shall keep a record of all alumni achievements for accreditation purposes. The Alumni Director will also look into the costs of printing Alumni Association note cards and envelopes.
| Objective/Action “B”: | Consider hosting a Leadership Day on campus to showcase ICO alumni who have achieved leadership status within the profession |
Comment: Showcasing ICO leaders to students in this way can be very beneficial but can have many challenges and may only provide limited interaction between students and alumni. With consideration for limited budgetary and human resources, other options will be explored (such as an ICO Hall of Fame) to meet these challenges and maximize the exposure of our national leaders to students. Investigation into the feasibility of this objective will continue.
| Goal #3 | Increase connectedness between students/alumni/institution |
| Objective/Action: | Outreach at ICO Exhibit Booths |
Description: This form of outreach shall entail Alumni Council members scheduling time to co-man the ICO exhibit booth at various local, state, and national conventions, namely, Midwest Eyecare Congress, AOA, IOA, and possibly adding Heart of America and the Michigan Optometric Association Convention. Responsibilities include: contacting the Alumni Director of times available, attending booth at scheduled time, promoting the profession and ICO at booth, and distributing literature at booth. Other opportunities are available on campus during the Practice Opportunities Symposium and Capstone Program.
| Goal #4 | Increase opportunities for non-fiscal participation that lead to fiscal support for the ICO Mission |
| Objective/Action: | Develop non-fiscal opportunities for alumni participation beginning with regional meetings |
Description: This shall be a pilot program in which Alumni Council members connect with 2-10 alumni in their area on a regular basis to network and share ideas. Responsibilities include: contacting alumni in the area and setting up monthly or quarterly meetings or office visits to discuss various topics related to the profession. These small group meetings can occur at various locations, such as in the home, office or in a restaurant. The result of building and strengthening these relationships will be mutually beneficial and will gradually progress to stronger positive feelings about ICO and eventual stewardship. The Alumni Director will provide lists of alumni from different geographical locations for the Alumni Council’s use.
| Goal #5 | Provide “added value” to alumni |
| Objective/Action: | Investigate alumni email service |
Comment: This action has already begun by continuing students’ “eyedoc” email accounts after graduation. Because of ongoing server capacity issues, the broadening of this service remains to be further planned. The Information Systems Department is currently addressing concerns related to this email service, and it is exploring if email accounts can be offered to all alumni in the near future.
| Objective/Action “B”: | Investigate web page to make resources available to alumni, such as practice management advice, etc. |
Comment: Adding services to our website has already begun (online giving is now possible; online directory information is being developed), and while we would eventually hope to establish more resources for alumni, there are many factors involved in order to initiate, maintain, and update such a project. Due to issues pertaining to liability, server capacity, content management, and oversight, this objective is beyond the scope of the resources that are available at this time.
Objective/Action “C”: Investigate options for an alumni list serve
Comment: With the recent addition of online giving and online alumni directory modules (Net Solutions), the focus will be on maximizing the potential of those modules to the benefit of ICO and our alumni before taking on any new ventures. It is proposed that the online alumni directory be password protected and available free for alumni who have purchased a hard copy. Access would be available for a fee for those alumni who have not previously purchased an alumni directory. Details regarding this proposal will be discussed further. Exploration of list serve offerings as a service to alumni will continue, thereby enabling our alumni to have interactive discussions online.
PHILANTHROPY – Support the Mission of the College by raising funds for the College
The single most important aspect of maintaining and strengthening the quality of education at ICO is to have the funds to support the advancement of our educational programs. Recruiting and retaining the best possible faculty, providing a state-of-the-art learning facility, and providing services that go beyond the four walls of the classroom are all essential for the future health and vitality of this institution and the future of the profession. Fund raising is vital for the growth of the College.
| Goal #6 | Investigate web page to make resources available to alumni, such as practice management advice, etc. |
| Objective/Action “A”: | Develop personal philanthropy of all Alumni Council members |
Description: By setting an example for other alumni to support the College through the Alumni Council members’ own personal philanthropic efforts, increased financial support for the College will result. Each Alumni Council member shall support the College fiscally according to their means. Eventual attainment of 100% membership in the Leadership Circle shall be desired (excluding student representatives).
Objective/Action “B”: Encourage/recruit alumni to support the College fiscally
Description: Each Alumni Council member, through example, shall recruit one other alumnus each year to support the College. If the Alumni Council member is a Leadership Circle member, recruit one other member per year. If the Alumni Council member supports the Annual Fund, recruit one other alumnus to support the Annual Fund per year. The Alumni Council has been provided with “giving” resource materials by the Development Office that address the various methods and giving programs available. The Development Office shall serve as an ongoing resource to support the fund raising activities of the Alumni Council members.
President
Pamela A. Lowe, OD '88, FAAO
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Vice President
Nicholas Colatrella, OD '96, FAAO
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Secretary-Treasurer
Andrea McCann, OD '04, FAAO
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Faculty Representative
Sandra Block, OD '81, FAAO
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Stephen Eap, OD '90, JD
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Tommy Lim, OD '77
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Bill M. Park, OD '77
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Nikki Rai, OD '03, FAAO
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Larry Van Daalen, OD '87
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Jeanette C. Varanelli, OD '97, FAAO
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Student Representatives
Kevin Cassin '14
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Andy Ritter '15
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