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Diversity Initiative

Diversity Initiative

The many kinds of people who come to the IU School of Optometry have one thing in common: they’re the future of optometry

The Indiana University School of Optometry understands the value in training a diverse healthcare workforce. To accomplish this aim we are committed to recruiting the most qualified faculty and students who can fulfill our state’s and nation’s need for diversity in healthcare delivery. We seek students and faculty who will bring intellectual, cultural, and demographic diversity that embodies Indiana University’s commitment to being a globally relevant institution of higher learning.

Through our mission of research and teaching excellence we embrace the foundational premise that the university is at its best when it serves as a dynamic meeting ground for a rich and varied array of people, ideas, and educational enterprises. In concert with the Indiana University strategic plan, the school of optometry supports cross-unit collaborations that foster greater interdisciplinarity and engagement with university grand challenge.

Guiding Policies & Best Practices

Faculty search and screen committees will be balanced among tenure-track and clinical faculty, appropriate for the type of search, that includes women and minority members.

Because optometry is a relatively small profession, job ads will be phrased to produce the widest net to capture applicants from a diverse background.

The school of optometry encourages our faculty to cultivate underrepresented scholars who can apply for open positions.

We also encourage recruitment of strategic diversity hires during times when active searches are not taking place, including sponsoring lecture series, visitor presentations, and other forums that actively seek the participation of underrepresented scholars.

Discover how everyone is welcome at the IU School of Optometry

Description of the video:

IU School of Optometry Diversity

Descriptive transcript

[Inspiring music plays.]

[Video: The IU School of Optometry logo appears. It disappears and an aerial view of the school of optometry building is shown. The building is four stories tall with a bank of windows in the center and a row of windows across the top floor. A closer view shows the sign in front of the entrance to the school.]

Narrator: Your future comes into focus at the Indiana University School of Optometry.

[Video: A student sits in an office, facing the camera for an interview.]

[Words appear: Walter Williams, first-year student.]

[Video: Walter is seen with other students in a lab conducting eye exams while a faculty member observes.]

Walter: I chose to enter optometry personally because, one the shorter path to the degree, becoming a physician, as well as the quality of life that comes with being an optometrist.

[Video: Another student is shown being interviewed.]

[Words appear: Claudia Hernandez, fourth-year student.]

[Video: Claudia is seen conducting an eye exam in the clinic.]

Claudia: I really wanted to go into a healthcare profession that was going to allow me to help more people and reach out to as many people as I could.

[Video: Another student is shown being interviewed.]

[Words appear: Rolando Mendoza Lopez, fourth-year student.]

Rolando: You have the opportunity to open up your own business, if you like, your own practice.

[Video: A young child receives an eye exam in a classroom. Then a faculty member shows a group of men how to use a machine.]

Rolando: And it's a great opportunity to help people.

[Video: A diverse group of students greet each other in the hallway at the school. Then students at an event on campus wave an IU flag in front of a greenscreen for picture. Next, two students dance at an event at the library while a crowd of students watches.]

Narrator: The IU School of Optometry strives to provide every student with the opportunity to achieve their dreams by continuing to build on a tradition of inclusion.

[Video: A man is shown being interviewed.]

[Words appear: Dr. Edwin Marshall, Professor Emeritus of IU School of Optometry.]

Dr. Marshall: Indiana University has a long legacy of inclusivity that probably goes back to the days of former Chancellor Wells during the 1940s.

[Video: A black and white photo shows Chancellor Wells talking with a Black man and another white man. Then another photo shows him hugging a Black man as they smile.]

[Words appear: Herman B Wells, former IU President and Chancellor. Advocate for integration and the rights of students of color at IU and beyond.]

Dr. Marshall: He was highly instrumental in making sure that students of color who came to IU were welcomed, you know, not only by the university, but also by the Bloomington.

[Video: Two aerial views of the campus show several large limestone buildings surrounded by trees. Then a diverse group of students are recording music.]

Rolando: The university is pretty big and there's people from all over the world. There's a lot of different student organizations and centers where you can go and get more resources depending on what group you identify with.

[Video: A woman is being interviewed in an eye exam room.]

[Words appear: Dr. Sabrina Reed, alumna.]

Dr. Reed: IU has definitely demonstrated their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

[Video: A group of students wearing shirts with traditional African designs are singing on an outdoor stage.]

Dr. Reed: And the faculty, they reverberate that.

[Video: Students interact with staff at information tables for student and university organizations at an outdoor event on campus.]

Narrator: Here you'll find a place where you belong and feel supported.

[Video: A student is shown being interviewed.]

[Words appear: Princess Ostine, second-year student.]

Princess: IU optometry is here to see you succeed.

[Video: A group of students, including Walter and Princess, are talking outside of the school entrance. Then they are sitting in a classroom talking and laughing.]

Princess: Everyone here is just a big family and they're willing to help you get to your end goal and graduate.

[Video: A woman is shown being interviewed in her office, with an IU School of Optometry banner on the wall behind her.]

[Words appear: Dr. Lupe Mejia, alumna.]

Dr. Mejia: IU was very much a family from the very beginning.

[Video: Two students are talking in the lobby of the school. Then a student is shaking hands with a faculty member as they enter a classroom, with a sign in the background that reads admission day, welcome.]

Dr. Mejia: There were people that looked like me, there were people that didn't look like me.

[Video: Students sit in the lecture hall listening to faculty speak.]

Dr. Mejia: So both from my classmates to the faculty, I really felt like it was a very welcoming environment.

[Video: A woman sits in her home being interviewed.]

[Words appear: Dr. Danielle Richardson, alumna.]

Dr. Richardson: The culture of IU School of Optometry is one of collaboration.

[Video: The lecture hall is full of students who listen as a faculty member conducts a lecture.]

Dr. Richardson: I connected with students who are both in my year and above and below me.

[Video: Back to Dr. Richardson being interviewed.]

Dr. Richardson: And really a primary vehicle for that connection was through NOSA, the National Optometric Student Association.

[Video: Walter is shown being interviewed. Then two students are seen walking on campus. Next, one of the students is seen at a graduation ceremony, moving her tassel from one side to the other.]

Walter: Here at IU, it seemed more of a family feel, more of a personal feel, makes you not only a better optometrist, but also a better person when you walk out of here in four years.

[Video: Scenes from an outdoor event show large groups of students walking between information booths and a stage. Different student groups do step dance routines and choral performances on the stage. Then a scene of the downtown area shows the IU marching band performing in the street lined with businesses and restaurants as a crowd watches.]

Narrator: While you're part of a close-knit community at the school of optometry, you will also have access to all of the exciting events and activities of a Big Ten campus that is located in a dynamic college town.

[Video: Claudia is shown being interviewed. Then an aerial view of the campus shows students walking past a big red clock on paths lined by trees.]

Claudia: The IU School of Optometry is really nice because you're part of a major D1, Big Ten university.

[Video: The outside of the football stadium is shown. Next, scenes from volleyball, football, and basketball games are shown.]

Claudia: And so there's lot of sporting events you can go to like football games, basketball games.

[Video: Princess is shown being interviewed.]

Princess: There's something for everyone.

[Video: Students are shown climbing an indoor rock-climbing wall. Then a choral group performs at an outdoor event. Next, a group of students perform a dance routine on an outdoor stage as a crowd watches.]

Princess: Whether you're into sports, music, culture, whatever it is, there's something for you.

[Dr. Mejia is shown being interviewed.]

Dr. Mejia: Nothing can replace, just the absolute aesthetics of IU, the way that the campus is designed.

[Video: A large red clock is shown on campus, with flowers around it and a limestone building in the background. Then students are seen walking the brick path through the Sample Gates, with colorful flowers and trees with autumn leaves on either side of the gates. Next, an aerial view shows a limestone building that curves towards a large green space dotted with trees and crisscrossed by walking paths. Another aerial view shows trees with fall colors next to a limestone building with sidewalks cutting between the trees. Then a student is shown walking on path through a green space with colorful fall trees. Next, a student walks on a campus filled with green leaves and flowers.]

Dr. Mejia: So that everywhere you are, you feel like you're part of the IU community.

[Video: The outside of the school is shown as cars drive past. Then people are seen walking under the glass windows above the entrance to the clinic. Next, students are seen having a discussion in a conference room at the school.]

Narrator: The opportunities outside the classroom add to the experience. But the important work is done inside the classroom, lab, and clinic. You'll learn from professors who are at the top of their field at one of the best schools in the country.

[Video: Dr. Marshall is shown being interviewed.]

Dr. Marshall: When you look at the faculty of the school, we see individuals who have been major contributors to the advancement of the profession.

[Video: A faculty member gives an eye exam to a patient while a student watches.]

Dr. Marshall: We have the opportunity to interact with the faculty, who is essentially setting the agenda not only for today, but also for tomorrow.

[Video: Rolando is shown being interviewed.]

Rolando: There are professors there that literally wrote some of the textbooks that we still learn out of.

[Video: A student continues the eye exam that was being conducted by the faculty member earlier. Then a close up of the patient’s eye is seen while a bright light moves across it.]

Rolando: And it's really impressive to see that once research is completed we’re taught about it in class.

[Video: Dr. Reed is shown being interviewed.]

Dr. Reed: The faculty at the IU School of Optometry was just amazing.

[Video: A student is shown conducting an eye exam. Then a faculty member is shown giving a lecture.]

Dr. Reed: They're recognized in the profession as leaders and just very highly regarded.

[Video: Students, including Princess and Walter, are seen in a lab classroom practicing eye exams while a faculty member observes.]

Narrator: After graduation, you'll find a range of different career opportunities that are made possible because of your prestigious IU Optometry degree and have a large alumni community in your network.

[Video: A series of photos show alumni of the school along with text descriptions. The first is Dr. Edward Hernandez, alumnus, 1986, who served as president of the California Optometric Association and State Board of Optometry. Next is Dr. Edwin Marshall, alumnus, 1971, who was inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame and served as IU Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs. Third is Dr. Paula Harmon Boone, alumna, 1980, who was the first female African American optometrist to be licensed in Virginia and to be appointed to the Virginia Board of Optometry. Next is Dr. Linda D. Johnson, alumna, 1978, who served as president of the National Optometric Association and was named Optometrist of the Year. Then Dr. Melvin Shipp, alumnus, 1972, who was the first African American to serve as CEO of a U.S. school or college of optometry. Next is Juanakee Adams, alumna, 1980, who was the first female African American optometrist licensed in Alabama.]

Dr. Richardson: I would say, what is really key with IU School of Optometry is the high level of academic excellence and how prepared and how competent we are to enter the profession upon graduation.

Rolando: I think having an IU degree is really beneficial as far as networking and getting to know people all over, really all over the country.

[Video: Princess is shown being interviewed.]

Princess: And I know there's alumni in every different part of optometry that you can think about so I can talk to any of them.

[Video: Students are shown practicing eye exams in the lab, including Princess.]

Princess: They're willing to help me.

Claudia: I'm really thankful for all the opportunities that I've had since I've been at IU.

[Video: Claudia is shown being interviewed.]

Claudia: It's helped me in the long run, I think become a better clinician.

[Video: Students are shown again practicing eye exams, including Walter and Princess.]

Narrator: You have a vision of your future.

[Video: Princess and two other students are sitting at a table in a study area talking, while Walter and another student walk past. Next, Walter and then Princess are seen smiling at the camera while sitting in front of a mural that features optometry equipment and the words Indiana University School of Optometry across it.] Narrator: That vision becomes clearer when you see yourself as part of the diverse student body supported by the welcoming community at the IU School of Optometry.

[Video: The screen goes white and the IU School of Optometry logo appears with the website address optometry dot I U dot e d u below.]

[Music ends.]

[End of transcript.]

IUSO’s Notable Black Optometrists

Indiana University School of Optometry alumni have opened doors and created a rich legacy for all optometrists. We are proud of our Black optometrists and to highlight their lasting contributions to the profession, please visit a special webpage highlighting IUSO’s Notable Black Optometrists.

Implementation & Accountability

Enhancing faculty and student diversity is an imperative of a 21st-century university school of optometry operating within the context of a nation undergoing seismic demographic, economic, and social changes. The credibility of the institution and its ability to adapt to the world in which we live will hinge upon our capacity to be more representative of that world in a more equitable way.

IUSO has created a Faculty Recruitment and Diversity Committee. This group meets regularly to discuss opportunities for enhancing faculty diversity through new hires, faculty retention, and school programs & policies that would make IUSO more attractive to underrepresented applicants. This committee is chaired by the Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
IUSO is creating an external Diversity Advisory Committee made up of prominent alumni and friends of the school who will provide strategic and tactical advice for enhanced recruitment of a diverse student body and faculty.
IUSO has applied for and will continue to apply for Federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) grants, either alone or in conjunction with other IU healthcare schools that fund pre-health school (pre-optometry) programs to better prepare URM (Under-Represented Minority) and 1^st generation college students to compete for entry to professional school.
Our goal is 10% URM students and faculty. Below are past and current student demographics. The tenure-track faculty currently has 7% URM representation.
IUSO supports diverse array of student organizations including AOSA and NOSA and encourages them to bring a diverse set of speakers to campus and engage in diverse community events. These organizations are also the funnel to greater campus URM organizations providing a rich environment beyond optometry.
IUSO Clinics organize free eye exams during MLK Day for those who cannot afford it and for all the athletes of the annual Special Olympics held in Terre Haute.
IUSO Clinics coordinate free eye exams with the local Volunteers in Medicine group
IUSO is committed to helping increase the number of underrepresented minority O.D.’s in the optometry field and to help with the finiancial burden, IUSO has the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship Program.

IU School of Optometry student seeing a patient

Student Demographics

Entering Year	Matriculates	Gender % Female/Male	Residents/ Non-residents	Underrepresented Minorities	Entering GPA
2014	75	70% / 30%	48% / 52%	9%	3.56
2015	80	63% / 37%	45% / 55%	9%	3.43
2016	86	73% / 27%	40% / 60%	7%	3.61
2017	78	60% / 40%	31% / 69%	10%	3.64
2018	76	78% / 22%	41% / 59%	12.5%	3.55
2019	85	74% / 26%	45% / 55%	6%	3.58
2020	86	62% / 38%	35% / 65%	6%	3.58

Underrepresented Student Recruiting Initiatives

High School Summer Program

Focus on Your Future High School Summer Program

Take the first step into the wonderful world of optometry in a fun and exciting way. Indiana University School of Optometry's Focus on Your Future high school summer program is a no cost, two night, three day camp designed to introduce high school juniors and seniors to one of the most rewarding careers in the healthcare field.

Discover more

College Summer Program

Eye U at Indiana University Summer College Program

Discover what it takes to become an Optometrist at the Eye U at Indiana University Summer College Program. Over the course of two nights and three days, you will learn about the optometry application process, take part in hands-on activities, and observe demonstrations by some of the optical world’s brightest researchers.