Three Indiana University School of Optometry (IUSO) alumni were honored as the 2025 recipients of the school’s Foley House Awards during a reception and program in the Frangipani Room at the Indiana Memorial Union on October 4. This reception marked the end of another successful IUSO Alumni Weekend that included a Golf Outing that raised over $15,000 for the IUSO Alumni Scholarship; Practice Management Seminar for students and alumni alike; school and clinic tours; and several class reunions.
“It is a privilege to recognize this year’s Foley House Award recipients,” said IUSO Dean Suresh Viswanathan, BOptom, MS, PhD. “Each of them has made extraordinary contributions – whether through decades of leadership, innovation in patient care and research, or inspiring service early in their career. They embody the excellence and commitment that define the IU School of Optometry, and we are immensely proud to celebrate them.”
Distinguished Alumni Award – Sarita Soni, OD’76, MS’79
Dr. Sarita Soni, Professor Emerita at Indiana University’s School of Optometry, has exemplified the spirit of this honor through her lifelong dedication to advancing optometry, distinguished academic leadership, and unwavering commitment to patient-centered research and education. A leading expert in corneal physiology and refractive error correction, she played a central role in establishing the Borish Center for Ophthalmic Research. At IU, she served as Associate Dean for Research, Interim Dean, and later Vice Provost for Research, providing strategic leadership across more than 20 research centers. Nationally, she has served on the FDA’s Ophthalmic Devices Panel, the NIH National Advisory Eye Council, and as president of the American Optometric Foundation. She is also an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Basement Key Award – Neil Pence, OD’79
For more than four decades, Dr. Neil Pence has dedicated his career to advancing the mission of IUSO through leadership, teaching, scholarship, and service. As Associate Dean for Clinical and Patient Care Services, he modernized and expanded IUSO’s clinics, ensuring the highest standards of patient care. He has taught across a wide range of courses, developed the school’s Capstone Graduation Seminar, and co-directed the joint IUSO/Kelley School of Business MBA and certificate programs in the Business of Eye Care. He has also mentored countless students and advised organizations including the Private Practice Club and Gold Key Leadership Society. Beyond IU, his impact includes leadership roles in the American Academy of Optometry and international contact lens educator associations, as well as authoring more than 70 scholarly articles.
Early Career Award – Jessilin Quint, OD’14
Since graduating in 2014, Dr. Jessilin Quint has emerged as a dynamic leader, clinician, and advocate within optometry. She is co-owner of Smart Eye Care, with three locations in Maine, and founder of the Smart Dry Eye Center of Excellence. Widely recognized for her expertise in ocular surface disease, she has published extensively, hosts the podcast To the Point: An Ocular Surface Disease Podcast, and lectures nationally. Dr. Quint currently serves as President of the Maine Optometric Association and as a Federal Advocacy Representative for the American Optometric Association. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, and has been recognized with honors such as the Women in Optometry Theia Award and Modern Optometry’s “One to Watch.”
About the Foley House Awards
There are three types of Foley House Awards bestowed by the IU School of Optometry. The Distinguished Alumni Award honors an alum for their preeminent status within the field of optometry. The Basement Key Award recognizes significant contributions given to the IU School of Optometry. The Early Career Award highlights an alum’s notable contributions to the profession in the early years of their career. IUSO has presented these awards annually since the inception of the Basement Key in 1976.
About the Indiana University School of Optometry
The Indiana University School of Optometry prepares its students for careers in optometry, the ophthalmic industry, and vision science through teaching, research, and service. The school is home to the most comprehensive and advanced eye health education, research, and patient care available, with an emphasis on outreach to vulnerable populations. For more information on the IU School of Optometry, visit optometry.iu.edu.
Leave a Reply