The appointee brings 15 years of experience in optometric education.

In a career defined by academic leadership and a passion for mentoring the next generation of optometrists, Dr. Brianne Hobbs, a 2010 graduate of the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) College of Optometry, has been named dean of Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Optometry.

“I’ve always known that optometric education was where I belonged,” Dr. Hobbs said in a school-issued press release. "It combines two of my greatest passions: vision care and teaching.”

Dr. Hobbs brings more than 15 years of experience in optometric education, including previous roles at Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Optometry and, most recently, as associate dean of academics at High Point University. Her career began shortly after completing a residency in ocular disease and low vision at the Kansas City VA Medical Center.

At Midwestern, she’s now tasked with guiding the college’s strategic direction, supporting faculty development, and cultivating a learning environment where both students and educators can thrive.

“It’s incredibly meaningful to represent the program that first believed in me,” she said. OM