Southern College of Optometry

Today, SCO welcomed participants to Eye on Success, our pre-optometry summer program designed to provide firsthand exposure to the profession through student life experiences, shadowing, and immersive learning opportunities.

Hosted by the Office of Access and Engagement and led by Dr. Janette Pepper, participants spent the day exploring the optometric profession through hands-on experiences and conversations with SCO students and alumni.

Thank you to Adam Young, OD ’14, and Christina Phan, OD ’14, for sharing their experiences during an Ask the Docs session, and to the students, alumni, faculty, and staff who participated throughout the day. We appreciate everyone who helped make today's program a valuable introduction to optometry, and we look forward to the rest of the week!

More than 500 photos from the Class of 2028’s White Coat Ceremony and reception are now available in our Flickr gallery.

📸 View and download images: https://www.flickr.com/gp/scoedu/9K95B3v65K

More photos and details from SVOSH’s recent mission trips:

Members of SCO’s SVOSH (Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity) club recently traveled to Belmopan, Belize, and Ensenada, Mexico, where they partnered with local Lions Clubs to provide free eye care and glasses to underserved communities. Between the two trips, they saw more than 1,200 patients and made more than 180 referrals to local doctors.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and service!

Southern College of Optometry and its clinics will be closed today in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen Tuesday, May 26.

Our Flickr gallery has been updated with more than 1,400 photos from 2026 Commencement Week! Highlights include the Commencement Ceremony at the Cannon Center, the Class of 2026 Inaugural Alumni Reception, pre-graduation celebrations, and the Class of 1976 reunion.

View and download your favorites here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/scoedu/collections/72157724967509332/

Class of 2028 student Marissa Driesen, ’28, is sharing some of her favorite Memphis restaurants in a new Student Life blog post featuring local spots near SCO and across the city.

Read more:

My Top 10 Memphis Restaurants: An SCO Student’s Local Food Guide In honor of Memphis in May and the start of the city’s food festival season, Class of 2028 student Marissa Driesen has assembled a quick guide to some of her favorite restaurants in the Memphis area. Several are close to SCO and represent the broad cultural diversity of the city. If you’re plan...

Congratulations to Mille Taylor, OD ’26, and her husband, Theo, on the birth of their daughter, Ingrid, born September 19, 2025!

Ingrid is pictured wearing her new SCO onesie.

If you have a young child or grandchild who would enjoy an SCO onesie, contact Karen Flowers ([email protected]) in Institutional Advancement.

Kara Bachus, OD ’95, was recently profiled in a Women In Optometry article discussing her career journey and leadership roles.

Read more:

OD Resets Career With Help From National Vision Network | Women In Optometry After some unexpected life changes and challenges, Dr. Kara Bachus reset her career by joining the National Vision network.

Amy Overland, OD ’25, was recently featured by VT Works in a profile discussing her work in developmental and neuro-optometric care. She also discusses receiving the Glen T. Steele, OD and L. Allen Fors, OD Developmental Vision Endowed Scholarship while at SCO.

Read more:

A Sit Down – with Dr. Amy Overland For the benefit of our readers, can you explain your current role in Developmental Optometry? Currently I’m an associate optometrist at Hellerstein and Brenner Vision Center working with patients o…