Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Walline, OD, PhD, as dean of the College of Optometry, effective July 1, pending Board of Trustees approval. A distinguished professor, he currently serves as the college’s associate dean of Academic Affairs.
Jeff has spent nearly 30 years at Ohio State in the College of Optometry, beginning as a graduate teaching associate in 1996 and joining the faculty in 2005. His career at the college includes strategic leadership in academic programming, faculty development, research administration and operational management. During 2024, he held the role of acting dean while Dean Karla Zadnik served as Ohio State’s interim executive vice president and provost. Previously, Jeff served as the college’s associate dean of research.
Since 2014, Jeff has also served as medical director of Realeyes, a program that educates children across Ohio’s 88 counties about the importance of routine eye care, reaching more than 100,000 children annually. He is also the co-principal investigator of a $25 million grant funded by the National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health. The 14-center randomized clinical trial will determine whether low-concentration atropine eye drops can delay the onset of nearsightedness in children.
Jeff’s leadership philosophy aligns strongly with Ohio State’s Shared Values of excellence, integrity, collaboration and respect. Further, his extensive senior leadership experience and longstanding commitment to excellence in optometric education, research and clinical care will benefit the college’s students, faculty, staff and patients.
He received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry and his master’s and PhD degrees from The Ohio State University College of Optometry.
I want to share my deepest appreciation to Dean Karla Zadnik for her remarkable service to Ohio State and our College of Optometry. For three decades, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and an unwavering commitment to our Buckeye community. We are fortunate that she will continue her service as a valued member of the college’s faculty.
In addition, I am grateful to the members of the search advisory committee, chaired by Carroll Ann Trotman, dean of the College of Dentistry.
This is an exciting moment for the future of the College of Optometry. Please join me in congratulating incoming Dean Jeff Walline!
Sincerely,
Trevor Brown
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost