Kathia Albañez OD ’22 Receives College of Optometry 2022 Dean’s Award and the 2022 Brian Lee Hill Memorial Award

Kathia Albañez OD ’22 earned the 2022 Pacific University College of Optometry Dean’s Award.

The Dean’s Award recognizes overall academic excellence, leadership, community service, and a commitment to fulfill the values of Pacific University’s mission— someone who embodies the culture of the College of Optometry. 

Albañez represented the interests of the Class of 2022 as a member of the dean’s council and worked with administration to create town halls to discuss concerns and share opportunities for success when the pandemic hit and courses went online. She was also a member of the equity, diversity and inclusion task force and played a significant role in how the college moved forward with an EDI lens.

Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Albañez moved to California in seventh grade. Inspired by her own life, she looks forward to providing eye care to low-income communities in the future. She also enjoys educating Spanish-speaking patients and would like to work in a community health setting in San Diego. 

She also was awarded the 2022 Brian Lee Hill Memorial Award, which was established in 2011 by Monty and Lilas Hill in honor of their son, an optometry student at Pacific, who died in a motor vehicle accident. This award provides monetary assistance to a deserving student who is chosen by their optometry school peers. The recipient is a student who brings the class together through friendship and leadership and who best embodies Hill’s qualities of inspiration.

The College of Optometry prepares tomorrow’s doctors of optometry, while also serving the vision needs of the local community and advancing research in the ophthalmic industry. The college offers bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programs in vision science, as well as a doctor of optometry degree.