SUNY College of Optometry recognized Hubert Sagnières, chairman of the Essilor Group and executive vice chairman of EssilorLuxottica, and Dr. Donald Hood, professor of psychology and professor of ophthalmic science at Columbia University, with honorary degrees during its 2019 commencement ceremony on May 23 at the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan.
“It is an honor to recognize these extraordinary gentlemen for their respective humanitarian and scientific efforts to advance quality eye and vision care for all,” said SUNY Optometry president David A. Heath.
Hubert Sagnières offered the commencement address and received the honorary doctorate of humane letters for his commitment to improving lives by improving sight throughout the world and his leadership in corporate philanthropy and strategic giving.
Mr. Sagnières has been the driving force behind Essilor’s ambitious goal to eradicate poor vision across the globe by 2050. Key efforts include the creation of the Essilor Vision Foundation, Vision Impact Institute, Vision for Life social fund and the inclusive business models of Eye Mitra in India and Vision Ambassador in China and other countries. He was also instrumental in the launch of a partnership with the Vision Catalyst Fund, which is an initiative of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.
Dr. Donald Hood received the honorary doctorate of science for five decades of research addressing the behavior, physiology and anatomy of the human visual system. His more than 300 publications have concerned the basic neuroscience of vision and diseases of the retina and optic nerve.
Dr. Hood is the James F. Bender professor of psychology and professor of ophthalmic science at Columbia University, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1969. He was the university’s vice president for the arts and sciences from 1982 to 1987 and has had continuous grant support from the National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute for more than 45 years.
Beyond his own research, Dr. Hood is editor-in-chief of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Glaucoma and Documenta Ophthalmologica and is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Society of Experimental Psychologists and the Optical Society of America.
The SUNY Board of Trustees votes and grants approval for all honorary degree recipients.