The Central World Council directs and manages the affairs of the Society. CWC members elect officers every two years.
Current Officers
![]() |
Chancellor Lindsay Elkins, OD, FAAO Dr. Lindsay M. Elkins received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003. She completed her Doctor of Optometry degree at the Southern College of Optometry in 2007 and a hospital based Primary Care residency at the Memphis Veterans Medical Center in June 2008. She joined the SCO faculty in July 2008 and currently holds the rank of Assistant Professor. Her roles include Coordinator of School Screenings as well as Clinical Lab Director for The Eye Center where she also serves as a clinical instructor in the adult primary care clinic. Dr. Elkins received the Young Alumni award from SCO in 2014 and is the current faculty advisor for the SCO chapter of Beta Sigma Kappa as well as the South Carolina students' club. Dr. Elkins is certified by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry in Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry (ACMO). She is a member of local, state, and national optometric organizations and has been an active fellow of the American Academy of Optometry since 2011. |
![]() |
Chancellor-Elect William H. Ridder,III, OD, PhD is a tenured Professor at the Southern California College of Optometry, Marshall B. Ketchum University where he teaches courses in Ocular Physiology and Neurophysiology of Amblyopia, and runs the Electrodiagnostic Service. He is also the Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies. He received his OD degree from the Illinois College of Optometry and his PhD from the University of Houston. His areas of interest include animal and human electrophysiology and human visual performance. He has published over 55 papers in refereed journals, 4 book chapters, and has given over 125 invited lectures at major meetings in the United States, Asia, and Europe. He is on the editorial board of Documenta Ophthalmologica and the Austin Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. Dr. Ridder is a member of the American Academy of Optometry, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology and Vision, the Society for Neuroscience, the Vision Sciences Society, and the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society.
|
![]() |
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jennifer Snyder received her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2012 from the Southern College of
Optometry (SCO). After graduating salutatorian of her class, she completed a residency in family practice
at West TN Eye. In 2013, Dr. Snyder joined the faculty at SCO, where she is an attending physician in
advanced care ocular disease and adult primary care and performs minor surgical procedures
and intravenous fluorescein angiographies. She teaches courses in Ocular Anatomy and Physiology,
Biochemistry, and Anterior Segment Disease and is a lab instructor for 2 nd and 3 rd year labs. She is a
member of local, state, and national optometric organizations and is a diplomate of the American Board
of Optometry. |
![]() |
Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Gelfond-Polnariev is a 2002 graduate of Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She completed a residency in Vision Therapy and Head Trauma Rehabilitation at the State University of New York College of Optometry, where she continues to be an Assistant Clinical Professor working with fourth years students in a pediatric clinic for over nine years. Dr. Gelfond also has a successful private practice in Staten Island, NY in which she specializes in vision therapy and head trauma rehabilitation for children and adults. She is a recipient of the Dr. Martin Birnbaum honorary award for extensive knowledge in behavioral vision therapy. She is currently a NYS coordinator for College of Optometrist in Visual Development (COVD), Board Member at Children’s Vision Coalition in New York State, and National Treasurer for Beta Sigma Kappa organization. She is a member of the Allied Health Staff at Staten Island University Hospital. |
![]() |
Executive
Director |
![]() |
Honorary Chancellor Dr.
Quinn graduated from the New England College of
Optometry (NECO) in 2001 and completed the Pediatric
Optometry Residency at NECO in 2002.
After completing her residency, she joined
faculty and she currently is an Associate Professor
at NECO. At NECO, she is the Instructor of Record for the
Pediatric Optometry Course and the Residency
Coordinator for the Pediatric Optometry Residency.
She is an attending optometrist at the Tufts
Medical Center Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic, where
she provides primary eye care and contact lens
services to pediatric patients and vision therapy
services to pediatric and adult patients.
Dr. Quinn’s research interests include
pediatric eye care and eye care delivery in the
developing world. She
has been a member of the American Academy of
Optometry since 1998 and earned her fellowship in
2002. She is a member of the American Optometric
Association and served on their Faculty Affairs
Committee from 2005-2008. . |
-------------------------------------------------------------
Board of Regents The Board of Regents reviews applications for Beta Sigma Kappa research grants and makes recommendations to the CWC. Willard B. Bleything, OD, MS, FAAO, FCOVD, FNAPO
Dr Clark did her undergraduate training at Michigan State University, where she was a member of the Honors College. She graduated cum laude from the Illinois College of Optometry, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Visual Science degree in 1976 and Doctor of Optometry degree in 1978. Dr Clark is a member of the American Academy of Optometry and was made a Fellow in 1987. From 1988 through 2010, she served as an officer for the Primary Care Section of the AAO, acting as section chair from 2004-2008. In addition to the national level of the AAO, Dr Clark is a member of the Illinois Chapter and is a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa International Honorary Fraternity. She serves as a course reviewer for national educational programs through the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) and the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE). Dr Clark is a reviewer for grant proposals for Beta Sigma Kappa and the American Optometric Foundation (AOF).
Thomas F. Freddo, OD, Ph.D, FAAO
|