Awards

IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award - 1997

School of Optometry Foley House Basement Key Award - 1997

About Jerald Strickland

Dr. Jerald Strickland is a native of Indiana with undergraduate (BS), professional (OD) and doctorate degrees (PhD) from Indiana University, Bloomington. After graduate studies, he joined the faculty of the School of Optometry at Indiana University where he taught and was the Assistant Dean for External Affairs. He joined the faculty and administration of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia, PA, as associate professor and Director of the Division of Professional Studies. The following year he was appointed Dean of Academic Affairs of the College and served as dean and chief academic officer until moving to the University of Houston in July 1979.

His initial administrative and faculty roles at the UH College of Optometry were Associate Dean for Administration and Professor of Optometry, and in 1981 he was appointed Associate Dean for Professional Studies. From September 1991-August 2003, he served as Dean of the UH College of Optometry and represented the faculty and the College at the international, national, state, university and practitioner levels.

In 1995 he was appointed by the Texas Commissioner of Higher Education to the Health Professions Education Advisory Committee to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Dean Strickland also served as President of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry in 1997-98.

In May 2001, Dean Strickland was elected founding President of the Board of Trustees of the World Optometry Foundation, Inc., the fundraising arm of the World Council of Optometry (WCO). In this role he sought philanthropic support for the good work of the WCO and worked to unite several international organizations toward a common goal, the elimination of avoidable blindness by year 2020. He also served as Vice President of the foundation until June 2006.

In August 2003, Dr. Strickland stepped down from the deanship of the college and in September 2003 was appointed Interim Senior Vice Chancellor/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of the University of Houston. In July 2005 Dr. Strickland was appointed Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Studies and Programs and Liaison/Director, University of Houston Reaffirmation of Accreditation, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the positions he currently holds.