Monroe Community College: Training America's Optics Technicians
Alexis Vogt, Monroe Community College
Abstract
Our global optics, photonics, and imaging industry is large and growing faster than the overall economy. This, coupled with industry reports that 20% of experienced technicians and engineers are approaching retirement, is creating a tremendous need for skilled optics and photonics technicians. In fact, 75% of Upstate New York skilled optics technician job openings go unfilled annually due to an insufficient number of optics and photonics graduates. Alexis Vogt, PhD, Endowed Chair and Associate Professor of Optics at Monroe Community College, will detail how the nation’s only community college awarding associate degrees in optics, is educating diverse optics and photonics technicians with the skills to meet the workforce needs.
Alexis KS Vogt, PhD is Endowed Chair and Associate Professor of Optics at Monroe Community College – the nation’s oldest two-year degree program for training technicians to work in the optics and photonics industry. Dr. Vogt received her B.S. as well as her Ph.D. in Optics from the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester where her research focused on polarization engineering, coherence theory, and microscopy. Prior to joining MCC, Dr. Vogt was the Applications & Business Development Manager at Melles Griot and previous to that, designed contact lenses and intraocular lenses for Bausch + Lomb. In addition to her industry experience, Dr. Vogt holds three patents and has authored numerous papers, presentations, and publications in the field, including the definitions of “light” and “polarization” for The World Book Encyclopedia. She dedicates time to youth outreach and has been involved with coordinating and presenting optics demonstrations to children and educators both within the Rochester community and internationally. Dr. Vogt is recipient of the Rochester Business Journal 2016 “Forty Under 40” award recognizing individuals under the age of 40 who have achieved professional success and have made significant contributions to the Rochester community. In addition, Dr. Vogt received the 2017 New York Photonics Education Award. Dr. Vogt serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Precision Optics Manufacturers Association (APOMA), the Rochester Museum & Science Center and the Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster. Dr. Vogt is married with three children ages 6, 4 and 15 months.
Pre-talk dinner with guest speaker Alexis Vogt will be held at 5:00 PM at Phillips European Restaurant, 26 Corporate Woods, Rochester, NY 14623, prior to the talk. Contact the House Committee by email for dinner reservations. Email: house@osarochester.org
About the Annual Stephen D Jacobs Memorial Talk
The Stephen D. Jacobs Annual Memorial Talk has been organized by the OSA-Rochester Section to honor the late Dr. Stephen D. Jacobs’s local and global contributions to the fields of optical materials, liquid crystals, optics manufacturing and educational outreach. Steve spent his entire career at the University of Rochester with appointments to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), Institute of Optics, Materials Science and Chemical Engineering departments. His research included topics such as phosphate laser glass, frequency conversion crystals, liquid crystal laser optics, optical finishing of glass, ceramics and crystals, magnetorheological finishing (MRF), cholesteric liquid crystal flakes for display applications, and laser damage in multilayer dielectric coatings. In addition to his significant technical contributions Steve also had a passion for educational outreach. He volunteered as the educational outreach chair for the OSA-Rochester Section for over 15 years during which time he developed and organized the Optics Suitcase program that has been instrumental in introducing hundreds of thousands of young children to the fields of optics and materials science throughout the US and globally in over 40 countries. Steve Jacobs touched many lives. We are honored to have this annual lecture in memory of our great colleague, friend and mentor.
