Congrats VS Grads!

Message from the Dean

To the Class of 2021, your partners, family and friends, CONGRATULATIONS!

Commencement is such a special celebration. It is a time to share with family, friends and loved ones the crowning accomplishment of so many years of hard work and dedication. As you graduate with your doctoral degree, we know that you have been attending institutions of higher education for many years, and we -- your teachers and your loved ones -- have all witnessed the industry, drive, and sacrifice required to have reached this life milestone. You deserve to be celebrated.

The Class of 2021 has experienced a time like no other in recent history. You have endured and persevered, you have negotiated extraordinary demands and lived with the threat of infection, whilst constantly caring for your patients, conducting your research, and supporting your friends and community. You have excelled. Please take time to be as proud of yourselves and your accomplishments as your dean, your professors, your patients, and your institution are of each and every one of you. Many congratulations to you all!

My hope is that you leave Berkeley Optometry and Vision Science confident in your knowledge and skills, humble in your calling to serve, respectful of the need for lifelong learning, thankful to all those who have helped you in your journey, and proud of the great institution from which you have learned. Together, you are the Class of 2021. We celebrate your many accomplishments and look forward to witnessing your future successes and contributions.

Last week, we celebrated our six PhD grads at a live online zoom meeting where each grad presented their research. A recording of that meeting is available here.

John G. Flanagan, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, FARVO (he, him)
Dean and Professor
School of Optometry