Celebrating a colleague and friend

I had the incredible honor to be a part of the recent inauguration ceremony of my friend, Dr. Jenny Coyle, as she became the 18th president of Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. One of our 23 schools and colleges of optometry in the United States, Pacific’s optometry program is part of a university that includes 3,300 students, from undergraduates to those pursuing professional doctorate degrees.

Jenny was installed as the president of the entire university, not just as the dean of the optometry program.

Becoming a university president requires leadership skills. As I said during her inauguration, Dr. Coyle has been an educator, leader, and mentor, and she will continue in all those roles. But I want to spend a moment talking about a few of the qualities of my friend, Jenny, that also enable her to be up to this task.

A GENUINE LEADER

I asked some mutual friends, “What words come to mind when you think of Jenny?” One friend sent a list of 66 adjectives in alphabetical order. (We have some overachievers as friends!) The words “charismatic,” “energetic,” “enthusiastic,” “inspirational,” “warm,” and caring were part of that list.

While I agree with many of the words, I believe the one that matters most for Jenny’s new role is “genuine”: What you see is what you get. Jenny has no hidden agenda, nor does she do things for personal gain. Instead, she strives to hear people’s stories to better the university.

For example, Jenny shared that she eats at the university cafeteria several times a week to sit with different students. And, at alumni events, she’s sought out because she garners respect as a genuine individual who makes people feel welcome, appreciated, and seen.

A VISIONARY MINDSET

My friend, Jenny, has vision. While that may be cliché for an optometrist, I’m referring to her mindset: A visionary is someone who has a vision for the future and inspires others to make it a reality. She was instrumental in developing Pacific University’s strategic plan a few years ago. In addition, Jenny worked on the school’s accreditation process. Also, she has developed new programs. She has been involved in too many projects to mention here, but always with a vision for the future and how to make things better for optometry and Pacific University.

ALL ABOUT FAMILY

And finally, my friend, Jenny, is all about family. I’m not referring to her biological family, but her optometry and Pacific University family. When we visit, she uses the words “my students,” “my faculty,” “my colleagues,” and “my team.” She experiences all the highs and lows that accompany caring about someone. Additionally, she understands tough love. She’s not afraid to make the tough decisions. But she will approach all decisions from a place of caring about the institution and its people. And those decisions will also be followed by a genuine vision of improving things.

That’s my friend, Jenny.

So, I’m proud to celebrate this genuine visionary who will always be a champion of her Pacific University family — just like she has been for optometry for many years. Congratulations, Dr. Coyle! OM

DR. CARLSON was the first woman to serve as president of the American Optometric Association. Most recently, she was a 2019 recipient of Women of Optometry’s Theia Award for Leadership. In addition to her optometric leadership, Dr. Carlson is a 2020 graduate from the University of Jamestown, with a Master of Arts in Leadership, as well as a John Maxwell-certified speaker and trainer.