OSA Elects New Vice President

The Optical Society of America has elected Susan Houde-Walter, professor of optics at the University of Rochester in New York, as vice president of OSA for 2003. Beginning her term on 2 January, she succeeds Peter Knight and will become president-elect in 2004 and president in 2005. Michael Morris will take the helm as OSA president in 2003.

Houde-Walter received her undergraduate degree in liberal arts from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, in 1976 and then her MS and PhD in optics from the University of Rochester in 1983 and 1987, respectively. She joined the faculty of the Institute of Optics at Rochester in 1987 as an assistant professor. In 1989, she cofounded LaserMax, a manufacturer of diode-laser–based products for law enforcement and industry. Houde-Walter served as president of the company from 2000 to 2002. She has since returned to teaching, but still plays an active role at LaserMax. Her research interests include novel optical materials, optical and x-ray spectroscopy, and optoelectronic design.

“OSA exists to promote discoveries in optical physics and advances in optical technology,” says Houde-Walter. “There are plenty of these, as evidenced by recent Nobel prizes for work in optics … and contemporary experience…. Our organization is healthy, both financially and intellectually, and our members are willing to experiment with new ways to advance the field.” She adds, “We are increasingly an international organization, which brings challenges as well as opportunities. We are up for the challenge, and, all said, it is a very good time to be part of the OSA.”

In other OSA election results, also taking office on 2 January will be three new directors at large: Ursula J. Gibson (Dartmouth College), James R. Leger (University of Minnesota), and Alexander A. “Sandy” Sawchuk (University of Southern California).