2025 NOA Convention Speaker Biographies

Roya Attar is an Associate Professor and Director of Optometric Services at the University of
Mississippi Medical Center. Holding dual Doctorates and an MBA, she’s a Fellow of the
American Academy of Optometry, past chair of the AAO Retina SIG, and a member of the
AOA Paraoptometric Resource Committee. As president of her local optometric society, she
remains dedicated to patient care, education, and advancing the profession, with numerous
awards and accolades recognizing her outstanding contributions.

Jacqueline G. Davis earned her undergraduate BS degree from Central State University in 1977, an OD degree in 1981 from The Ohio State University College of Optometry (OSUCO) and a Master of Public Health degree from the Ohio State University College of Public Health in 2008. She worked full time at OSUCO from 2005 –2020 and as a part-time Clinical Instructor from 1981-1987. She established and operated a solo private practice in Columbus, Ohio from 1987-2009. She taught the following courses: Optometry 7710; Differential Diagnosis in Anterior Segment Disease, Opt 7790; Advanced Diagnosis and Management of Ocular Disease, Optometry 5600; Eyes on Community Health, Optometry 645.01 Primary Vision Care clinic with Opt III students, Optometry 745.; Advanced Ocular Care clinic, Optometry 745.12: Outreach Clinic Externship with Opt IV students. She conducted research in the following areas: Optometric Public Health issues such as addressing glaucoma in underserved populations and self-perception/academics of adolescents wearing glasses versus wearing contact lenses. She secured $20,000 in funding from the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus for her research. She served as Chair of the OSU (Ohio State University) College Engagement Committee, member of the OSUCO Admissions Committee, OSUCO Committee for Inclusion and Diversity, member of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Advisory Board, Co-Advisor to the OSU Chapter of the National Optometric Student Association, Advisor to the Improving Diversity in Optometric Careers (I-DOC) program and member of The Prevent Blindness Ohio’s Aging Public Private Partnership.

Bradley E. Dougherty, OD, PhD is an Associate Professor at the Ohio State University College of Optometry. Dr. Dougherty’s research interests include driving with central vision impairment, evaluation of new technologies for low vision rehabilitation, visual assessment, and analysis of patient-reported outcome measures to assess the impact of low vision. He also serves as a clinical attending in the Low Vision Rehabilitation Service at Ohio State. He received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Ohio University and OD, MS, and PhD (Vision Science) degrees from the Ohio State University. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and was twice awarded the William C. Ezell Fellowship from the American Academy of Optometry Foundation. His research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, Research to Prevent Blindness, and the Ohio Lions Eye Research Foundation.

As the first African American female optometrist to practice in the state of North Carolina and the first to become a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry, being cutting edge is a way of life for Dr. Paula Newsome. From providing free eye care to people on numerous continents including Africa, South America and North America to having a private practice in Charlotte for over 20 years, Dr. Newsome is the doctor to optimize, customize and personalize your vision for a lifetime.

Dr. Vondolee Delgado-Nixon, PhD, FAAO joined the faculty at the Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2001. She is a Professor, and Chief Diversity Officer of the college. She enjoys teaching pathophysiology, clinical diagnostic reasoning, and creating an equitable, and inclusive environment for the college and optometry patients. She received a National Science Foundation graduate and postdoctoral fellowship. She has been recognized by the University for innovative teaching with the Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching and was inducted into OSU’s Academy of Teaching in 2015. Dr. Delgado-Nixon serves as Chair of the Committee for Inclusion and Diversity. She develops and implements DEIB initiatives which have been recognized nationally, and within the OSU community. In 2014, the Committee for Inclusion and Diversity was awarded OSU’s Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award. In addition, the OSU College of Optometry has been awarded the Insight into Diversity Magazine’s Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award (HEED) for five consecutive years (2019-2023). In 2023, the American Academy of Optometry awarded Dr. Delgado-Nixon with the Excellence in Diversity Awareness and Education Award, and the National Optometric Association awarded her the Educator of the Year in 2024. She lectures nationally and trains others in topics related to equity, inclusion, structural competency, and systemic disease.